Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NOT AS I WILL, by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NOT AS I WILL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Blindfolded and alone I stand
Last Line: "not as we will."
Alternate Author Name(s): H. H.; Holm, Saxe; Jackson, Helen Hunt
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


Blindfolded and alone I stand,
With unknown thresholds on each hand;
The darkness deepens as I grope,
Afraid to fear, afraid to hope;
Yet this one thing I learn to know
Each day more surely as I go,
That doors are opened, ways are made,
Burdens are lifted or are laid
By some great law, unseen and still,
Unfathomed purpose to fulfil,
"Not as I will."

Blindfolded and alone I wait;
Loss seems too bitter, gain too late;
Too heavy burdens in the load
And too few helpers on the road,
And joy is weak and grief is strong,
And years and days so long, so long;
Yet this one thing I learn to know
Each day more surely as I go,
That I am glad the good and ill
By changeless law are ordered still,
"Not as I will."

"Not as I will"; the sound grows sweet
Each time my lips the words repeat,
"Not as I will"; the darkness feels
More safe than light when this thought steals
Like whispered voice to calm and bless
All unrest and all loneliness.
"Not as I will," because the One
Who loves us first and best has gone
Before us on the road, and still
For us must all His love fulfil,
"Not as we will."





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