Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TWO SONNETS: 2, by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TWO SONNETS: 2, by                    
First Line: Which is the greater thing? To dwell on high
Last Line: And armour god's weak shoulders could not bear.


Which is the greater thing? To dwell on high
As God does, far apart from all the cares
Of mankind, kissed by heavenly golden airs
And all the countless flower-scents of the sky,—
Or Christ-like and Prometheus-like to die?—
Which is the nobler? Man who suffers long?
Or God who guards himself with fence of song
From sight of sorrow and from sound of sigh?—

Which is the grander? God with silken hair
Smooth, fragrant, combed, anointed,—or the grim
Blood-stained and sweat-stained form that faces him?—
Man wounded, marred, yet terrible and fair:
With hand on red sword jagged along the rim
And armour God's weak shoulders could not bear.





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