Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EARTH'S BURDENS, by ERNEST CHARLES JONES Poet's Biography First Line: Why groaning so, thou solid earth Last Line: "tis therefore that I groan." Subject(s): Pain; Suffering; Misery | ||||||||
WHY groaning so, thou solid earth, Though sprightly summer cheers? Or is thine old heart dead to mirth? Or art thou bow'd by years? "Nor am I cold to summer's prime, Nor knows my heart decay; Nor am I bow'd by countless time, Thou atom of a day! "I lov'd to list when tree and tide Their gentle music made, And lightly on my sunny side To feel the plough and spade. "I lov'd to hold my liquid way Through floods of living light; To kiss the sun's bright hand by day, And count the stars by night. "I lov'd to hear the children's glee, Around the cottage door, And peasant's song right merrily The glebe come ringing o'er. "But man upon my back has roll'd Such heavy loads of stone, I scarce can grow the harvest gold: 'Tis therefore that I groan. "And when the evening dew sinks mild Upon my quiet breast, I feel the tear of the houseless child Break burning on my rest. "Oh! where are all the hallow'd sweets, The harmless joys I gave? The pavement of your sordid streets Are stones on Virtue's grave. "And thick and fast as autumn leaves My children drop away, A gathering of unripen'd sheaves By premature decay. "Gaunt misery holds the cottage door, And olden honor's flown, And slaves are slavish more and more: 'Tis therefore that I groan." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PARTHENOPHIL AND PARTHENOPHE: MADRIGAL 14 by BARNABE BARNES SONNETS IN SHADOWS: 1 by ARLO BATES IN PRAISE OF PAIN by HEATHER MCHUGH THE SYMPATIZERS by JOSEPHINE MILES LEEK STREET by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE FACTORY TOWN by ERNEST CHARLES JONES |
|