Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A moon impoverished amid stars curtailed
Last Line: Where light shines full and where the palm-tree blows.
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina
Subject(s): Charity; Philanthropy


A MOON impoverished amid stars curtailed,
A sun of its exuberant lustre shorn,
A transient morning that is scarcely morn,
A lingering night in double dimness veiled. --
Our hands are slackened and our strength has failed:
We born to darkness, wherefore were we born?
No ripening more for olive, grape, or corn:
Faith faints, hope faints, even love himself has paled.
Nay! love lifts up a face like any rose
Flushing and sweet above a thorny stem,
Softly protesting that the way he knows;
And as for faith and hope, will carry them
Safe to the gate of New Jerusalem,
Where light shines full and where the palm-tree blows.





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