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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EXAGGERATION by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

Poet Analysis

First Line: WE OVERSTATE THE ILLS OF LIFE, AND TAKE
Last Line: THAT BY THE GRIEF OF ONE CAME ALL OUR GOOD.
Subject(s): GRIEF; DISCONTENT; SORROW; SADNESS; DISSATISFACTION;
WE overstate the ills of life, and take
Imagination (given us to bring down
The choirs of singing angels overshone
By God's clear glory) down our earth to rake
The dismal snows instead, flake following flake,
To cover all the corn; we walk upon
The shadow of hills across a level thrown,
And pant like climbers: near the alder brake
We sigh so loud, the nightingale within
Refuses to sing loud, as else she would.
O brothers, let us leave the shame and sin
Of taking vainly, in a plaintive mood,
The holy name of GRIEF! -- holy herein,
That by the grief of ONE came all our good.



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