God knows the burdened soul's dark sorrowing When hearts are sadly pregnant with old fears. God knows the labour that it is to bring The child of laughter from the womb of tears. And oh, life's tempered joy, cold, bitter band, Sorrow embowered in bright pleasure's wreath, Heart's passion, quickened by love's fiery breath, Heart's hope, denied by fate's despoiling hand; The golden vision of God's shining face Mid halting steps and body's shambling dress— All this the travail and the bitterness, The gall that sours the spirit's wonted grace. And must the body bear the blood-writ scroll To wake the murmurs of th' immortal soul? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TROY PARK: 5. THE CAT by EDITH SITWELL THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 55. ST. VALENTINE'S DAY by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT A PORTRAIT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING UPON HIS DEPARTURE HENCE by ROBERT HERRICK SATIRE: 3. TO SIR FRANCIS BRIAN by THOMAS WYATT THE ROSARY by CHARLOTTE A. BRADSHAW SHAKE, MULLEARY AND GO-ETHE by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER |