Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BITTER-SWEET, by HENRY VAN DYKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BITTER-SWEET, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Just to give up, and trust
Last Line: Surely, now, the bitter is sweet.
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): Fate; Destiny


JUST to give up, and trust
All to a Fate unknown,
Plodding along life's road in the dust,
Bounded by walls of stone;
Never to have a heart at peace;
Never to see when care will cease;
Just to be still when sorrows fall --
This is the bitterest lesson of all.

Just to give up, and rest
All on a Love secure,
Out of a world that's hard at the best,
Looking to heaven as sure;
Ever to hope, through cloud and fear,
In darkest night, that the dawn is near;
Just to wait at the Master's feet --
Surely, now, the bitter is sweet.





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