Oh unforgotten! How long ago? one spirit saith: As long as life even unto death, The passage of a poor frail breath. Oh unforgotten: An unforgotten load of love, A load of grief all griefs above, A blank blank nest without its dove. As long as time is -- No longer? time is but a span The dalliance space of empty man; And is this all immortals can? -- Ever and ever, Beyond all time, beyond all space; -- @3Now@1, shadow darkening heart and face, -- @3Then@1, glory in a glorious place. Sad heart and spirit Bowed now yea broken for a while, Lagging and toiling mile by mile Yet pressing toward the eternal smile. Oh joy eternal! -- Oh youth eternal without flaw! -- Thee not the blessed angels saw Rapt in august adoring awe. Not the dead have thee, Not yet O all surpassing peace; Not till this veiling world shall cease And harvest yield its whole increase. Not the dead know thee, Not dead nor living nor unborn: Who in the new sown field at morn Can measure out the harvest corn? -- Yet they shall know thee; And we with them, and unborn men With us, shall know and have thee when The single grain shall wax to ten. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A FRIEND by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD SONG by DAVID HARTLEY COLERIDGE HIPPOLYTUS TEMPORIZES by HILDA DOOLITTLE NIGHT AND DAY by SIDNEY LANIER VIRGILS GNAT by EDMUND SPENSER THE OTHER WORLD by HARRIET BEECHER STOWE |