Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DRIFTING DOWN, by RICHARD SOLOMON GEDNEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DRIFTING DOWN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A wild desire throbbed in my breast
Last Line: I wandered in a bitter dream.
Subject(s): Grief; Pain; Sorrow; Sadness; Suffering; Misery


A wild desire throbbed in my breast,
It would not give me any rest,
It urged me to a nameless quest.

I gazed into the glowing fire,
From out its depths the wild desire
Came forth unto me, nigh and nigher.

I looked abroad upon the night,
I said "I have not any light,
"How can I steer my life aright?"

I said "It is in vain to live,
"Earth has not anything to give,
"'Tis pouring water in a sieve."

I said "The old year dies to-night,
"I would go with him in his flight,
"To endless day or endless night.

"I care but little which it be,
"I do not seek to sever me
"From self, I only would be free."

But there was silence in the skies,—
It only seemed that angel eyes
Were gazing on me in surprise.

A thought came o'er me like a cloud,—
I rose in wrath, I cried aloud
"I will not measure my own shroud!

"What is there, then, that I should be
"A horror to humanity—
"A fool through all Eternity?

"A broken heart, a failing mind,
"A health and spirit undermined,
"Are woes that float on every wind.

"Why am I weaker than the rest
"Of fellowmen, to do my best
"To pluck from out the serpent's nest

"Of pain, and woe, and detriment,
"The humble floweret of content,—
"The Patience unto Sorrow lent?

"Have I less life-ability
"Than those who are but men like me,
"That I should fly this penalty—

"The fruit of my own idiot-acts;
"Fool-visions, gendering bitter facts,
"Sparks nourished amid withered flax?

"If I will take a serpent in,
"And it doth sting me, is the sin
"To it or me the nearer kin?

"Must I not pay the debt I owe
"Of tears and torture, pain and woe
"And fruitless strivings to and fro?

"And linger on another while,
"To meet again her scornful smile,
"And Pelion on Ossa pile?"

And so, until the eastern beam
Flowed o'er me, like a golden stream,
I wandered in a bitter dream.





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