Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A BURDEN, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: They lie at rest asleep and dead Last Line: Hallelujah, amen. Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Variant Title(s): My Old Friends Subject(s): Death; Dreams; Friendship; Life; Love; Dead, The; Nightmares | ||||||||
They lie at rest asleep and dead, The dew drops cool above their head, They knew not when past summer fled -- Amen. They lie at rest and quite forget The hopes and fears that wring us yet; Their eyes are set, their heart is set -- Amen. They lie with us, yet gone away Hear nothing that we sob or say Beneath the thorn of wintry may -- Miserere. Together all yet each alone, Each laid at rest beneath his own Smooth turf or white appointed stone -- Amen. When shall our slumbers be so deep, And bleeding heart and eyes that weep Lie lapped in the sufficient sleep? -- Miserere. We dream of them: and who shall say They never dream while far away Of us between the night and day? -- Sursum corda. Gone far away: or it may be They lean toward us and hear and see Yea and remember more than we -- Amen. For wherefore should we deem them far Who know not where those spirits are That shall outshine both moon and star? -- Hallelujah. Where check or change can never rise Deep in recovered Paradise They rest world-wearied heart and eyes -- Jubilate. We hope and love with throbbing breast, They hope and love and are at rest: And yet we question which is best -- Miserere. Oh what is earth, that we should build Brief houses here, and seek concealed Poor treasure, and add field to field And heap to heap and store to store, Still grasping, ever grasping more, While death stands knocking at our door? -- Cui bono? But one will answer: Changed and pale And starved at heart, I thirst I fail For love, I thirst without avail -- Miserrima. Sweet love, a fountain sealed to me: Mere love, the sole sufficiency For every longing that can be -- Amen. Oh happy those alone whose lot Is love: I search from spot to spot; In life, in death, I find it not -- Miserrima. Not found in life: nay, verily. I too have sought: come sit with me And grief for grief shall answer thee -- Miserrima. Sit with me where the sapless leaves Are fallen and sere: to one who grieves What cheer have last year's harvest sheaves? -- Cui bono? Not found in life: yet found in death. I sought life as but a breath There is a nest of love beneath The sod, a home prepared before; Our brethren whom one mother bore Live there, and toil and ache no more -- Hallelujah. Dear friends and kinsfolk great and small; Not lost but saved both one and all: They watch across the parting wall (Do they not watch?) and count the creep Of time, and sound the shallowing deep, Till we in port shall also sleep -- Hallelujah, Amen. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GIVE YOUR WISH LIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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