|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COMPENSATIONS, by CHRISTOPHER BANNISTER First Line: The blackest clouds have suns beyond Last Line: Smile for smile, and glee for glee. Subject(s): Rewards; Smiles | |||
THE blackest clouds have suns beyond To touch them with a fairy's wand; And never was a cloud — not one — That has outlasted our good sun; If it's too sunny, 't is allowed That hottest sun makes heaviest cloud. Never did the longest rain Fail to end in sun again; Mud has never yet been spied That, some day, did not get dried; Never was the dust so thick But a shower would lay it quick. If the winter is so chill, Summer heat is coming still; If the summer is too hot, Winter's coming, when it's not; And, between them, spring and fall — Not too cold or hot at all. When night's blackest, twice as gay Is the dawn at break of day; If the noon hour is too bright, 'T will not be so, late at night; And the stars and silver moon Gild December, more than June. Man may trudge the longest mile And, to the end, smile meets with smile; And on sunny days sit down And frown, till all around him frown; What you are will others be — Smile for smile, and glee for glee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ANGEL'S WHISPER by SAMUEL LOVER SONG OF THREE SMILES by WILLIAM STANLEY MERWIN MEARY'S SMILE by WILLIAM BARNES THE LAUGHING WOMAN by WILLIAM ROSE BENET LOVE IN EXILE 2: 4 by MATHILDE BLIND A MOTHER'S HEART by CHRISTOPHER BANNISTER |
| |