Let no man think that sudden in a minute All is accomplished and the work is done;— Though with thine earliest dawn thou shouldst begin it Scarce were it ended in thy setting sun. Oh the regret, the struggle and the failing! Oh the days desolate and useless years! Vows in the night, so fierce and unavailing! Stings of my shame and passion of my tears! How have I seen in Araby Orion, Seen without seeing, till he set again, Known the night-noise and thunder of the lion, Silence and sounds of the prodigious plain! How have I knelt with arms of my aspiring Lifted all night in irresponsive air, Dazed and amazed with overmuch desiring, Blank with the utter agony of prayer! Shame on the flame so dying to an ember! Shame on the reed so lightly overset! Yes, I have seen him, can I not remember? Yes, I have known him, and shall Paul forget? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STRAPLESS by KAREN SWENSON A LITANY OF ATLANTA by WILLIAM EDWARD BURGHARDT DU BOIS THE MOTHER IN THE HOUSE by HERMANN HAGEDORN THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER by THOMAS MOORE MARY'S GIRLHOOD (FOR A PICTURE): 1 by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE TABLES TURNED by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |