Poem by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning

Sonnets from the Portuguese. 25. A heavy heart, Belovëd, have I borne

A heavy heart, Belovëd, have I borne
From year to year until I saw thy face,
And sorrow after sorrow took the place
Of all those natural joys as lightly worn
As the stringed pearls, each lifted in its turn
By a beating heart at dance-time.  Hopes apace
Were changed to long despairs, till God’s own grace
Could scarcely lift above the world forlorn
My heavy heart.  Then thou didst bid me bring
And let it drop adown thy calmly great
Deep being!  Fast it sinketh, as a thing
Which its own nature does precipitate,
While thine doth close above it, mediating
Betwixt the stars and the unaccomplished fate.

1. The Holy Night
2. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 40. Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!
3. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 11. And therefore if to love can be desert
4. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 19. The soul’s Rialto hath its merchandize
5. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 41. I thank all who have loved me in their hearts

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