Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

The Penitent

I had a little Sorrow,
Born of a little Sin,
I found a room all damp with gloom
And shut us all within;
And, ”Little Sorrow, weep,” said I,
”And, Little Sin, pray God to die,
And I upon the floor will lie
And think how bad I’ve been!”

Alas for pious planning - -
It mattered not a whit!
As far as gloom went in that room,
The lamp might have been lit!
My little Sorrow would not weep,
My little Sin would go to sleep --
To save my soul I could not keep
My graceless mind on it!

So I got up in anger,
And took a book I had,
And put a ribbon on my my hair
To please a passing lad,
And, ”One thing there’s no getting by --
I’ve been a wicked girl,” said I:
”But if I can’t be sorry, why,
I might as well be glad!”

1. Grown-up
2. My Most Distinguished Guest And Learned Friend
3. Assault
4. Sweet Love, Sweet Thorn, When Lightly To My Heart
5. Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love

Anne Brontë The Penitent ("I mourn with thee and yet rejoice")

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