Count each affliction, whether light or grave, God's messenger sent down to thee; do thou With courtesy receive him; rise and bow; And, ere his shadow pass thy threshold, crave Permission first his heavenly feet to lave; Then lay before him all thou hast: Allow No cloud of passion to usurp thy brow, Or mar thy hospitality; no wave Of mortal tumult to obliterate The soul's marmoreal calmness: Grief should be, Like joy, majestic, equable, sedate; Confirming, cleansing, raising, making free; Strong to consume small troubles; to commend Great thoughts, grave thoughts, thoughts lasting to the end. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GLADYS AND HER ISLAND; AN IMPERFECT TALE WITH DOUBTFUL MORAL by JEAN INGELOW COMPENSATIONS by CHRISTOPHER BANNISTER PSALM 10. UT QUID DOMINE by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE DAY-DAWN IN ITALY by ANNE CHARLOTTE LYNCH BOTTA KEATS' GRAVE IN ROME by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON A MAIDEN'S IDEAL OF A HUSBAND by HENRY CAREY (1687-1743) TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN KEATS by JOHN CLARE NEWS FROM NEWCASTLE; UPON THE COAL-PITS ABOUT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE by JOHN CLEVELAND |