Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE END, by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE END, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What is to come we know not. But we know
Last Line: What is to come.
Alternate Author Name(s): Henley, W. E.
Subject(s): Future Life; Retribution; Eternity; After Life


What is to come we know not. But we know
That what has been was good -- was good to show,
Better to hide, and best of all to bear.
We are the masters of the days that were:
We have lived, we have loved, we have suffered . . . even so.

Shall we not take the ebb who had the flow?
Life was our friend. Now, if it be our foe --
Dear, though it spoil and break us! -- we not care
What is to come?

Let the great winds their worst and wildest blow,
Or the gold weather round us mellow slow:
We have fulfilled ourselves, and we can dare
And we can conquer, though we may not share
In the rich quiet of the afterglow
What is to come.





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