EVIL, every living hour, Holds us in its wilful hand, Save as thou, essential Power, May'st be gracious to withstand: Pain within the subtle flesh, Heavy lids that cannot close, Hearts that Hope will not refresh, -- Hand of healing! interpose. Tyranny's strong breath is tainting Nature's sweet and vivid air, Nations silently are fainting Or up-gather in despair: Not to those distracted wills Trust the judgment of their woes; While the cup of anguish fills, Arm of Justice! interpose. Pleasures night and day are hovering Round their prey of weary hours, Weakness and unrest discovering In the best of human powers: Ere the fond delusions tire, Ere envenomed passion grows From the root of vain desire, -- Mind of Wisdom! interpose. Now no more in tuneful motion Life with love and duty glides; Reason's meteor-lighted ocean Bears us down its mazy tides; Head is clear and hand is strong, But our heart no haven knows; Sun of Truth! the night is long, -- Let thy radiance interpose! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FLAME LIGHTS UP by DAVID IGNATOW WEIGHING THE BABY by ETHEL LYNN BEERS SUNSET AND SUNRISE by EMILY DICKINSON THE WIND (2) by EMILY DICKINSON THE CONFLICT OF CONVICTIONS by HERMAN MELVILLE THE TEMPERAMENTS by EZRA POUND ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 11. ON LOVE - TO A FRIEND by MARK AKENSIDE |