Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BRAND OF CAIN by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

Poet Analysis

First Line: I BEAR UPON MY BROW THE SIGN
Last Line: THY CROSS, A SAINT OF THINE.
Subject(s): CAIN;
I BEAR upon my brow the sign
Of sorrow and of pain;
Alas! no hopeful cross is mine,
It is the brand of Cain.

The course of passion, and the fret
Of godless hope and fear, --
Toil, care, and guilt, -- their hues have set,
And fix'd their sternness there.

Saviour! wash out the imprinted shame;
That I no more may pine,
Sin's martyr, though not meet to claim
Thy cross, a saint of Thine.



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