THE wish behind the thought is the soul's star Of faith, and out of earth we build our heaven. Life to each unschooled child of time has given A fairy wand with which he thinks to unbar The dark gate to a region vast and far, Where all is gained at length for which he has striven -- All loss requited -- all offences shriven -- All toil o'erpassed -- effaced each battle-scar. But ah! what heaven of rest could countervail The ever widening thought -- the endless stress Of action whereinto the heart is born? What sphere so blessed it could overbless With sweets the soul, when all such gifts must fail, If from its chosen work that soul were torn? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE FOR MEMORIAL DAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR MILTON; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE SHEPHERD by WALTER RALEIGH EHEU, FUGACES! by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS SONNET: 2 by RICHARD BARNFIELD PSALM 125 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE SUNSHINE AND SHADOW by ROBERT BROWN TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 4. THE OCEAN OF SEX by EDWARD CARPENTER |