Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BATTLE WITHIN, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BATTLE WITHIN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: God strengthen me to bear myself
Last Line: Break off the yoke and set me free.
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina
Variant Title(s): Who Shall Deliver Me?
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


GOD strengthen me to bear myself;
That heaviest weight of all to bear,
Inalienable weight of care.

All others are outside myself;
I lock my door and bar them out,
The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.

I lock my door upon myself,
And bar them out; but who shall wall
Self from myself, most loathed of all?

If I could once lay down myself,
And start self-purged upon the race
That all must run! Death runs apace.

If I could set aside myself,
And start with lightened heart upon
The road by all men overgone!

God harden me against myself,
This coward with pathetic voice
Who craves for ease, and rest, and joys:

Myself, arch-traitor to myself;
My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe,
My clog whatever road I go.

Yet One there is can curb myself,
Can roll the strangling load from me,
Break off the yoke and set me free.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net