And yet chief strength gives chiefest tenderness.— After the battle comes the calm of sleep Upon a woman's breast, and eyes that weep, And the superb and sorrowless caress. Oh, did not Christ, after the bitter stress Of unknown agony in the garden deep, Fruits of unknown unearthly triumph reap,— When, death being over, love leant down to bless? First, battle; after, woman. First the swords That mingle in the sweltering close @3mêlée,@1 And then the embrace yet closer that rewards Of one who watched from far the fierce fast fray. First, pitiless strife. Then woman who accords Gifts that blot out the blood-freaked dust-streaked day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE ESTHER; A YOUNG MAN'S TRAGEDY: 50 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT ANNABEL LEE by EDGAR ALLAN POE FROLIC by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL SONNET: 53 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FLORAL DECORATIONS FOR BANANAS by WALLACE STEVENS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 6. HYMN TO CHEERFULNESS by MARK AKENSIDE |