BLESSINGS, alas! unmerited, Freely as evening dews are shed Each day on my unworthy head. So that my very sins but prove The sinlessness of Him above And his unutterable love. And yet, as if no ear took heed, Not what I ask, but what I need, Comes down in answer, when I plead. So that my heart with anguish cries, My soul almost within me dies, 'T wixt what God gives, and what denies. For howsoe'er with good it teems, The life accomplished never seems The blest fulfillment of its dreams. Therefore, when nearest happiness, I only say, The thing I miss -- That would have perfected my bliss! When harvests great are mine to reap, Too late, too late! I sit and weep, My best beloved lies asleep! Sometimes my griefs are hard to bear, Sometimes my comforts I would share, And the one dearest is not there. That which is mine to-day, I know, Had made a paradise below, Only a little year ago. The sunshine we then did crave, As having almost power to save, Keeps now the greenness of a grave. To have our dear one safe from gloom. We planned a fair and pleasant room, And lo! Fate builded up a tomb. An empty heart, with cries unstilled, An empty house, with love unfilled, These are the things our Father willed. And bowing to Him, as we must, Whose name is Love, whose way is just, We have no refuge, but our trust. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRAYER OF A SOLDIER IN FRANCE by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER IDYLLS OF THE KING: PELLEAS AND ETTARRE by ALFRED TENNYSON BETWEEN WAND AND WELT by MARGARET AHO NO PLEDGES by FLORA J. ARNSTEIN PICTURES OF MOTHER by STELLA PFEIFFER BAISCH THE CONVERSION by RALPH WILHELM BERGENGREN THE AUTHOR OF 'THE GREAT ILLUSION' by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |