'I cannot mount to heaven beneath this ban; Can Christian hope survive so far below The level of the happiness of man? Can angels' wings in these dark waters grow?' A spirit voice replied, 'From bearing right Our sorest burthens, comes fresh strength to bear; And so we rise again towards the light, And quit the sunless depths for upper air: Meek patience is as diver's breath to all Who sink in sorrow's sea, and many a ray Comes gleaming downward from the source of day, To guide us reascending from our fall; The rocks have bruised thee sore, but angels' wings Grow best from bruises, hope from anguish springs.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOHNNY APPLESEED by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ON THE PROSPECT OF PLANTING ARTS AND LEARNING IN AMERICA by GEORGE BERKELEY ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON EXILE OF ERIN by THOMAS CAMPBELL KEEP A-PLUGGING AWAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |