The twisted hearts, the crumpled brains, The broken spirits of us all, How could they tolerate life's pains If the quips and the nods And the mocks at the gods, And the wicked smiles And the wanton wiles, Which make things even, Were censored on earth as well as in heaven? We are all condemned, as the deep tide rolls: A prayer or a kiss -- 'Tis hit or miss. The goldenest lover The earth must cover Along with the fool Who holds life a school For hammering noble souls. Let us be kind to one another then; And remembering we are men Of one stuff spun, Make of our miching-mallecho A cowslip-ball to toss and throw At the moon or the sun! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PARAGRAPHS: 16 by HAYDEN CARRUTH KEEPING UP WITH THE SIGNS by MADELINE DEFREES AN ANSWER TO THE PARSON by WILLIAM BLAKE FLOWERS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW AN EPITAPH ON A ROBIN REDBEAST by SAMUEL ROGERS AUTUMN SONG by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |