Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ROSALIND'S SCROLL, by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I left thee last, a child at heart Last Line: A saint companionless. Subject(s): Prayer | ||||||||
I LEFT thee last, a child at heart, A woman scarce in years: I come to thee, a solemn corpse Which neither feels nor fears. I have no breath to use in sighs; They laid the dead-weights on mine eyes To seal them safe from tears. Look on me with thine own calm look: I meet it calm as thou. No look of thine can change this smile, Or break thy sinful vow: I tell thee that my poor scorn'd heart Is of thine earth -- thine earth -- a part: It cannot vex thee now. I have pray'd for thee with bursting sob When passion's course was free; I have pray'd for thee with silent lips In the anguish none could see; They whisper'd oft, 'She sleepeth soft' -- But I only pray'd for thee. Go to! I pray for thee no more: The corpse's tongue is still; Its folded fingers point to heaven, But point there stiff and chill: No farther wrong, no farther woe Hath licence from the sin below Its tranquil heart to thrill. I charge thee, by the living's prayer, And the dead's silentness, To wring from out thy soul a cry Which God shall hear and bless! Lest Heaven's own palm droop in my hand, And pale among the saints I stand, A saint companionless. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN LISTEN, LORD: A PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE PRAYER DURING A TIME MY SON IS HAVING SEIZURES by SHARON OLDS WE WHO PRAYED AND WEPT by WENDELL BERRY PRAYERS AND SAYINGS OF THE MAD FARMER by WENDELL BERRY A CHILD'S THOUGHT OF GOD by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |
|