TOO often they linger apart, Gloomy Toil and bright Beauty; But lo! forged in fire of my heart See the clasp of hard Duty; Pure gold, like the midsummer sun, Full rounded, fine fashioned, The circlet that links two in one By a life-vow impassioned. Dull Toil! Nature marks thee as groom, For thy force, thews, and muscle; They fit thee to win ample room 'Mid life's pressure and bustle: Tho' Sin was thy sire, in the sweat Of thy brow lurks a blessing; Thy dews health and glory beget, Tho' born of transgressing. Fair Beauty! as bride must thou shine; Eternity's splendour Has robed thee in vesture divine, Of hues soft and tender; Appear, radiant daughter of Truth! From thy Mansion above him; Upraise him from Time's gloom and ruth, Serve, honour, and love him! He, taken for better or worse, With strength shall endow her; While she lifts the lingering curse That o'er him may lower. Sweet pair! Heaven formed you to mate; To-day shall ye marry; This ring the true token that Fate Constrains you to tarry, To tarry, for aye in my heart With Bliss for your neighbour; If Toil support Beauty in Art And Beauty crown Labour, Then, born of the twain, a bright throng Of Graces shall cherish All Right in my work, and its Wrong Shall faint, fade, and perish. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SISTER MARIA CELESTE, GALILEO'S DAUGHTER, WRITES TO FRIEND by MADELINE DEFREES FOR REMEMBERING HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU by JAMES GALVIN CHAMBER MUSIC: 8 by JAMES JOYCE THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM by AMY LOWELL SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: COLUMBUS CHENEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TOWERS OF SIMON RODIA; FOR HOWARD W. SWENSON 1903-1081 by KAREN SWENSON |