 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
SONNET.—GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH!
God give me strength to struggle for the truth!Truth is not easy in a world like this,
Where all is bias—whether curse or kiss;
And one is warp'd even in his tend'rest youth,
To a false cognizance, till all's amiss!
Where the heart's full of tenderness, then ruth,
Shrinks from stern justice, and we seek to soothe,
When we should ruffle! If there be a pride,
Goading ambition to achievement rare,
We tremble, lest the sneer of man should hiss,
And strive to please, when better 'twere to chide;
We think too much of men, and too much care
For the world's judgments! Help me, God, in this—
To be the thing I should be, though left bare!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |