Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONGS IN ABSENCE: 13, by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONGS IN ABSENCE: 13, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Were you with me, or I with you
Last Line: My own and better self in you.
Subject(s): Absence; Love; Separation; Isolation


WERE you with me, or I with you,
There's nought methinks I could not do;
And nothing that, for your dear sake.
I might not dare to undertake.

With thousands standing by as fit,
More keen, perhaps more needing it,
To be the first some job to spy,
And jump and call out, Here am I!

O for one's miserable self
To ask a pittance of the pelf,
To claim, however small, a share,
Which other men might think so fair:

It was not worth it! a first time
A thought upon it seemed a crime;
To stoop and pick the dirty pence,
A taint upon one's innocence.

My own! with nothing sordid, base.
Or mean, we would our love disgrace;
Yet something I methinks could do,
Were you with me, or I with you:

Some misconstruction would sustain;
Count some humiliation gain;
Make unabashed a righteous claim,
And profess merit without shame:

Apply for service; day by day
Seek honest work for honest pay,
Without a fear by any toil
The over-cleanly hand to soil:

Secure in safety to return,
And every pettiness unlearn;
And unimpaired still find anew
My own and better self in you.





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