Poem by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning

Tears

THANK God, bless God, all ye who suffer not
More grief than ye can weep for. That is well--
That is light grieving ! lighter, none befell
Since Adam forfeited the primal lot.
Tears ! what are tears ? The babe weeps in its cot,
The mother singing, at her marriage-bell
The bride weeps, and before the oracle
Of high-faned hills the poet has forgot
Such moisture on his cheeks. Thank God for grace,
Ye who weep only ! If, as some have done,
Ye grope tear-blinded in a desert place

And touch but tombs,--look up I those tears will run
Soon in long rivers down the lifted face,
And leave the vision clear for stars and sun.

1. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 20. Belovëd, my Belovëd, when I think
2. Sonnets from the portuguese. 31. Thou comest! all is said without a word
3. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 35. If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange
4. Sonnets from the Portuguese. 25. A heavy heart, Belovëd, have I borne
5. Rosalind's Scroll

Lizette Reese Tears ("WHEN I consider Life and its few years")

Print

5001 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version