Poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The House of Life. Sonnet 93. The Sun's Shame - 2

As some true chief of men, bowed down with stress
Of life's disastrous eld, on blossoming youth
May gaze, and murmur with self-pity and ruth,--
"Might I thy fruitless treasure but possess,
Such blessing of mine all coming years should bless";--
Then sends one sigh forth to the unknown goal,
And bitterly feels breathe against his soul
The hour swift-winged of nearer nothingness:

Even so the World's gray Soul to the green World
Perchance one hour must cry: "Woe's me, for whom
Inveteracy of ill portends the doom,
Whose heart's old fire in shadow of shame is furl'd:
While thou even as of yore art journeying,
All soulless now, yet merry with the Spring!"

1. The House of Life. Sonnet 90. «Retro Me, Sathana!»
2. Johannes Ronge
3. At Issue
4. Ashore at Dover
5. To Thomas Woolner

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