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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IF I HAD KNOWN, by MIRIAM DEL BANCO First Line: If I had known this morning Last Line: To change the words of Subject(s): Lament; Love; Mourning; Bereavement | |||
If I had known this morning, How all the weary day The angry words I said to you Before you went away, Would fill your heart with sadness, Would taunt you with their tone, I would have been more gentle then — If only I had known! If I had thought the coldness With which I turned away Would haunt you like a weary dream, And cloud your sunny May, I would have spoken softly; But did you ever seek To crush with pride the tenderness Your lips would gladly speak? If I had but considered How many a weary hour Your heart had sheltered mine from pain, As one would shield a flower, I would have borne in silence And spared you needless pain, Nor uttered words whose sharpness ne'er Can be recalled again. For though the starry twilight Has brought your kiss of peace, How long 'twill be ere, to us both, The pain of heart shall cease! It might have been that never Love's hand would set them right; For many a one goes forth at morn That ne'er returns at night. How gently do we utter Our thoughts to friend and guest; But ah! How careless is our tone To those we love the best! Oh, stay the look of anger! Oh, check the word of scorn! Lest night's sweet sorrow be too late To change the words of | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUNGERFIELD by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN HECUBA MOURNS by MARILYN NELSON THERE IS NO GOD BUT by AGHA SHAHID ALI |
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