IF light should strike through every darkened place, How many a deed of darkness and of shame Would cease, arrested by its gentle grace, And striving virtue rise, unscathed by blame! The prisoner in his cell new hopes would frame, The miner catch the metal's lurking trace, The sage would grasp the ills that harm our race, And unknown heroes leap to sudden fame. If love but one short hour had perfect sway, How many a rankling sore its touch would heal, How many a misconception pass away, And hearts long hardened learn at last to feel: What sympathies would wake, what feuds decay If perfect love might reign but one short day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...REGARDING CHAINSAWS by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE COCK AND THE BULL by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY THE POET AND HIS BOOK by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY FRIENDSHIP [OR, THE TRUE FRIEND] by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FANCIES AT NAVESINK: 2 by WALT WHITMAN SONNET TO HOPE by HELEN MARIA WILLIAMS |