Poem by Robert Seymour Bridges

Shorter Poems. Book II. 11. Dejection

Wherefore to-night so full of care,
My soul, revolving hopeless strife,
Pointing at hindrance, and the bare
Painful escapes of fitful life?

Shaping the doom that may befall
By precedent of terror past:
By love dishonoured, and the call
Of friendship slighted at the last?

By treasured names, the little store
That memory out of wreck could save
Of loving hearts, that gone before
Call their old comrade to the grave?

  O soul, be patient: thou shalt find
A little matter mend all this;
Some strain of music to thy mind,
Some praise for skill not spent amiss.

Again shall pleasure overflow
Thy cup with sweetness, thou shalt taste
Nothing but sweetness, and shalt grow
Half sad for sweetness run to waste.

O happy life! I hear thee sing,
O rare delight of mortal stuff!
I praise my days for all they bring,
Yet are they only not enough.

1. Shorter Poems. Book V. 15. “The north wind came up yesternight”
2. Shorter Poems. Book IV. 30. Laus Deo
3. Shorter Poems. Book II. 8. Spring. Ode I
4. Shorter Poems. Book III. 1. “O My Vague Desires!”
5. Shorter Poems. Book III. 4. On a Dead Child

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