University of Virginia Library

[Heart wingèd once; self-doomed]

Heart wingèd once; self-doomed
To pine in bonds the saddest:
Strong spirit, self-entombed
Within the vaults thou madest:
Thy Will it is, thy Will
That holds thee prisoner still!
O Soul, in vain thou strainest
Against thy prison bar;
Of all vain things the vainest
Our poor, half efforts are.
Wholly be free!—till then
Thou dost but hug thy chain.