CONFINED within the walls of a grey world, And never from that iron realm allowed, My powers were wasted; I was broken, bowed; Throughout the years my strength and will were furled. But later, when the force of time had hurled All barriers down, released me from the cloud That held my spirit, left me free, endowed With latitudes of love, my spirit whirled Bewildered round itself. In that clear field I had not strength nor will to stand revealed, Nor claim deliverance. Self-pity drew Me to my doom. I was beset anew; I was afraid -- afraid that love would see What all those iron years had done to me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DESERTED GARDEN by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE WIDOW'S MITE by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON AT HOME by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE DALLIANCE OF THE EAGLES by WALT WHITMAN SONNET: BARBERRIES by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH DESERT by PATRICK JOHN MCALISTER ANDERSON THE SNAIL by ANTOINE VINCENT ARNAULT TO MR. BARBAULD, WITH A MAP OF THE LAND OF MATRIMONY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |