I DO not envy God— There is no thing in all the skies or under To startle and awaken Him to wonder; No marvel can appear To stir His placid soul with terrible thunder— He was not born with awe nor blessed with fear. I do not envy God— He is not burned with Spring and April madness; The rush of Life—its rash, impetuous gladness He cannot hope to know. He cannot feel the fever and the sadness The leaping fire, the insupportable glow. I do not envy God— Forever He must watch the planets crawling To flaming goals where sun and star are falling; He cannot wander free. For He must face, through centuries appalling, A vast and infinite monotony. I do not envy God— He cannot die, He dare not even slumber. Though He be God and free from care and cumber, I would not share His place; For He must live when years have lost their number And Time sinks crumbling into shattered Space. I do not envy God— Nay more, I pity Him His lonely heaven; I pity Him each lonely morn and even, His splendid lonely throne: For He must sit and wait till all is riven Alone—through all eternity—alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 37. AL-HALI by EDWIN ARNOLD FROM THE FRENCH by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE REEVE'S TALE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER TO MRS. K.T (WHO ASKED HIM WHY HE WAS DUMB) by JOHN CLEVELAND THE LITTLE SALAMANDER by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE |