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 | The poetical works of Edward Rowland Sill |  |
286
THE DESERTER
Blindest and most frantic prayer,
Clutching at a senseless boon,
His that begs, in mad despair,
Death to come;—he comes so soon!
Clutching at a senseless boon,
His that begs, in mad despair,
Death to come;—he comes so soon!
Like a reveler that strains
Lip and throat to drink it up—
The last ruby that remains,
One red droplet in the cup,
Lip and throat to drink it up—
The last ruby that remains,
One red droplet in the cup,
Like a child that, sullen, mute,
Sulking spurns, with chin on breast,
Of the Tree of Life a fruit,
His gift of whom he is the guest,
Sulking spurns, with chin on breast,
Of the Tree of Life a fruit,
His gift of whom he is the guest,
Outcast on the thither shore,
Open scorn to him shall give
Souls that heavier burdens bore:
“See the wretch that dared not live!”
Open scorn to him shall give
Souls that heavier burdens bore:
“See the wretch that dared not live!”
| The poetical works of Edward Rowland Sill | |