Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LABORE CONFECTO, by NORMAN ROWLAND GALE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LABORE CONFECTO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ah god, how good and sweet it is
Last Line: On such a white, white breast!
Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; Night; Rest; Work; Workers; Bedtime


AH God, how good and sweet it is
To have so fair a rest
For such a weary, weary head
On such a white, white breast!

Ah me, how sweet and good it is
To leave the city's lamps,
Its multitude of merchant-men,
Its multitude of tramps:

To find the children eager-eyed,
Expectant of my tread—
Bright little angels scantly robed
In readiness for bed!

To hear the music of a voice
That welcomes me at night:
To see within her eyes of love
A rare and sudden light!

To watch the youngest at her heart,
And hear with ecstasy
His uncouth dialect of joy
When calling out to me!

The finest language lacking words
The world has ever had!
And how the spirit answers it!
And how the soul is glad!

Peace, peace indeed, with labour done,
The babies kissed to sleep,
To hear the household chronicles—
What made the children weep;

What dandelions grew beside
The dock-plants in the lanes;
How Baby puckered up his face
At stinging-nettle pains.

Peace, peace indeed! And then to sit
Beside my Love's low chair,
And sometimes feel her hand—sometimes
Her lips upon my hair.

And bliss it is, returning late,
To see her, half-divine,
Calm as a statue-saint, asleep,
And think—This angel's mine.

Gold, pink, and snow in one she lies
Toward my vacant place,
As if she hoped when she awoke
At once to find my face.

Ah God, how good and sweet it is
To have so fair a rest
For such a weary, weary head
On such a white, white breast!





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