THIS is the pain that each one strives to bear— The ancient goading of futility. Yet for a while I hold to hope, and wear The marks of pain upon me pridefully; For these make very honourable scars Gained in a war with stronger things than death; So I shall pass erect beneath the stars, Strong though unseen, and breathe my heavy breath. And I shall be like every other man, Hiding my darkest secret through the night, Alone since this new loneliness began, Smiling a little at my losing fight, And wondering what work I may complete Before the day comes in on my defeat. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THOUGHTS OF A TINY PIG by DAVID IGNATOW MY BOY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON HER EYES by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON MIDSUMMER FROST (1) by ISAAC ROSENBERG MIDSUMMER FROST (2) by ISAAC ROSENBERG UPLANDS IN MAY by CARL SANDBURG HENRY MOORE'S STATUE AT LINCOLN CENTER by KAREN SWENSON |