Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DESIRE TO DEPART, by EDWARD NOYES POMEROY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DESIRE TO DEPART, by                    
First Line: Not to escape the ills of life
Last Line: Forever, blessed lord, with thee.
Subject(s): Problems; Sin


Not to escape the ills of life,
Not that I dread misfortune's knife,
Not that I would my duty shirk,
Not that I weary of Thy work,

Is my desire to depart,
Dear Lord, who searchest all my heart
Thou knowest I would still remain
In spite of all that gives me pain,—

The daily burdens that I bear,
Infirmities that none can share,
The purposes I fail to keep,
The downfalls over which I weep;

Thou knowest if I long to go,
When troubles seem to overflow,
From storm without and strife within,
And all the wretchedness of sin;

It is not that I now behold
The sapphire gates and streets of gold;
That down the vistas of my dreams
Celestial, fadeless glory gleams;

That loved ones who have gone before
Re-cross the flood to guide me o'er,
And teach my lips, in place of sighs,
The melodies of Paradise:

Nor yet that I shall enter in
Where they abide who never sin,
Who rest from weariness and pain,
From heartache and a tangled brain;

It is that when this life is done,
Its work complete, its battles won,
Apart from evil I shall be
Forever, blessed Lord, with Thee.





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