Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, KISSING THE ROD, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

KISSING THE ROD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O heart of mine, we shouldn't worry so!
Last Line: Just be glad.
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Variant Title(s): Just To Be Glad
Subject(s): God; Grief; Hearts; Sorrow; Sadness


O HEART of mine, we shouldn't
Worry so!
What we've missed of calm we couldn't
Have, you know!
What we've met of stormy pain,
And of sorrow's driving rain,
We can better meet again,
If it blow!

We have erred in that dark hour
We have known,
When our tears fell with the shower,
All alone! --
Were not shine and shower blent
As the gracious Master meant? --
Let us temper our content
With His own.

For, we know, not every morrow
Can be sad;
So, forgetting all the sorrow
We have had,
Let us fold away our fears,
And put by our foolish tears,
And through all the coming years
Just be glad.





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