WHY DOST THOU STRUGGLE, STRIVE FOR VICTORY Over my heart that loveth thine so well? When Death shall one day have its will of thee And to deaf ears thy triumph thou must tell. Unto deaf ears or unto such as know The hearts of dead and living wilt thou say: A childish heart there loved me once, and lo I took his love and cast his love away. A childish greedy heart! yet still he clung So close to me that much he pleased my pride And soothed a sorrow that about me hung With glimpses of his love unsatisfied -- And soothed my sorrow -- but time soothed it too Though ever did its aching fill my heart To which the foolish child still closer drew Thinking in all I was to have a part. But now my heart grown silent of its grief Saw more than kindness in his hungry eyes: But I must wear a mask of false belief And feign that nought I know his miseries. I wore a mask, because though certainly I loved him not, yet was there something soft And sweet to have him ever loving me: Belike it is I well-nigh loved him oft -- Nigh loved him oft, and needs must grant to him Some kindness out of all he asked of me And hoped his love would still hang vague and dim About my life like half-heard melody. He knew my heart and over-well knew this And strove, poor soul, to pleasure me herein; But yet what might he do some doubtful kiss Some word, some look might give him hope to win. Poor hope, poor soul, for he again would come Thinking to gain yet one more golden step Toward Love's shrine, and lo the kind speech dumb, The kind look gone, no love upon my lip -- Yea gone, yet not my fault, I knew of love But my love and not his; how could I tell That such blind passion in him I should move? Behold I have loved faithfully and well; Love of my love so deep and measureless O lords of the new world this too ye know | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROCK ME TO SLEEP by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN PEACE; A STUDY by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY JEANIE MORRISON by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL PSALM 29. AFFERTE DOMINO by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE AN INVOCATION by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD QUIETNESS by ANNE MILLAY BREMER GHOSTS by MARION FRANCIS BROWN PARLEYINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE OF IMPORTANCE: GERARD DE LAIRESSE by ROBERT BROWNING |