To understand the song I sing You must know grief like mine, And out of love's immortal spring Drink life's divinest wine. Ah, you must love, and lose, and learn What these alone can tell, When thoughts of flame transcendent burn, Like bolts, when angels fell. O, you must know what 'tis to stand Alone 'mid boundless night, To search in darkness for a hand To guide your way aright, Yet find it not; to hear no sound, No promise in the gloom— A spirit in a void profound— The universe a tomb. If, having swooned upon the shore Of time, and tasted death, You wander back to life once more And feel returning breath, While memory recalls the strain, Triumphant, sweet and strong, That came with death, that ended pain, You'll understand my song. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOUGLASS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG by ANNIE CHAMBERS KETCHUM EVENING IN ENGLAND by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE THE FIELD MOUSE by WILLIAM SHARP CAPTAIN MORROW'S THANKSGIVING by LILLIE E. BARR COMFORT by RUTH FITCH BARTLETT |