"Ha! shall the living Needy miss my hand, Whom for my penitence I sought to bless, Till there depended on me numberless Souls that unaided scarce have strength to stand? Not only for my penance had I planned To succour these; I pitied their distress: Shall I betray them to their helplessness For that new task? Is this thy sad demand?" Oh, strength of tenderness! 'tis here I pause: I dare not answer; for to thee alone The weight and shaping of that claim is known; Lo, even Nature has her minor laws! Yet fling thy will once down before her throne, -- Brave frankly her last verdict in the cause. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: 50 by GEORGE SANTAYANA A CELEBRATION by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS TO THE DANDELION by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL TIPPERARY: 2. AS THE TRANSLATORS WOULD HAVE INTERLINED IT . . . by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE TOOTHPICK by GHALIB IBN RIBAH AL-HAJJAM LAURENCE BLOOMFIELD IN IRELAND: 4. BALLYTULLAGH by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM |