Labour for Love; thy labour shall be vain. Conquer it; God shall laugh, and feed thee dust. Deserve it; thou shalt clasp a broken trust, Learning a wise unfaith. For joy or pain Love falleth wantonly, as falls the rain Alike upon the just and the unjust. Take all unclean that lieth to thine hand -- There is no shame but wherewith Love may be. Be pure -- thou fool, what shall it profit thee? Thine uttermost endeavour may command Upon the shore a grain the less of sand, A drop the more of water in the sea. Because the heart of Love is hidden higher Than ever poet sang or prophet saw, Beyond all dream of glory and of awe, -- The very holiness of thy desire Shall blind thee to the gold within the fire, And hold thee from the best. This is the law. Therefore deserve; give wholly; do no ill; Labour, and overcome. So the one kiss May overflow a greater soul with bliss More curiously sought; or, if Chance will Thou shalt, remembering old beauty, still Worthily suffer, knowing what Love is. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WOODSMOKE AT 70 by HAYDEN CARRUTH SUGGESTED BY THE COVER OF A VOLUME OF KEATS'S POEMS by AMY LOWELL ITALIAN PICTURES: THE COSTA SAN GIORGIO by MINA LOY BRUTUS AND ANTONY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |