Speak to Two Souls -- Who thus Reply: I IN all my work, in all the children's play, I hear the ceaseless hum of London near; It cries to me, I cannot choose but hear Its never-ending wail, by night and day. So many millions -- is it vain to pray That all may win such peace as I have here, With books, and work, and little children dear? -- That flowers like mine may grow along their way? Through all my happy life I hear the cry, The exceeding bitter cry of human pain, And shudder as the deathless wail sweeps by. I can do nothing -- even hope in vain That the bright light of peace and purity In those lost souls may ever shine again! II 'Mid pine woods' whisper and the hum of bees I heard a voice that was not bee nor wood: 'Here, in the city, Gold has trampled Good. Come thou, do battle till this strife shall cease!' I left the mill, the meadows and the trees, And came to do the little best I could For these, God's poor; and, oh, my God, I would I had a thousand lives to give for these! What can one hand do 'gainst a world of wrong? Yet, when the voice said, 'Come!' how could I stay? The foe is mighty, and the battle long (And love is sweet, and there are flowers in May), And Good seems weak, and Gold is very strong; But, while these fight, I dare not turn away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THIS LIME-TREE BOWER MY PRISON by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE HUMAN LIFE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE THE LOVE-SICK FROG by MOTHER GOOSE MAUBERLEY: 5. MEDALLION by EZRA POUND A LIFE-LESSON by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |