Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNET: HELOISE. 3. ABBESS, by CONSTANCE CAROLINE WOODHILL NADEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET: HELOISE. 3. ABBESS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweet is life's crown of quiet, sweet is joy
Last Line: "and palsied. Live in peace; for I am dead."
Subject(s): Heloise (1098-1164); Eloise; Eloisa


SWEET is life's crown of quiet; sweet is age,
With tranquil days, unmarred by joy or dole,
Void of desire, save that with just control
I may administer Christ's heritage:
Long since he heard my vow, the heartless gage
Not spurning; took my tear-stained, love-writ scroll,
And words of strength and healing for the soul
Wrote with his own heart's blood across the page.

Passion is all forgotten, pain is fled:
Yet oft, 'mid idle phantoms of the mind,
Returns my earlier Self, with scornful eyes,
Saying -- "Thou deemest age hath made thee wise,
And knowest not that thou art deaf, and blind,
And palsied. Live in peace; for I am dead."






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