Blackberries :: :: University of Virginia Library

Blackberries

by William Allingham

Allingham, William (1824-1889)

[epigraph]

[dedication]

[section]

[Life, after all, is here, and so are we]

[“No absolute right or wrong: what test?”]

[Have Heaven and Earth given a glad hour to thee?]

[Nature's no niggard; if the truth were known]

[When living rightly here below]

[The highest-natured men—the Best—]

[Silent the Earth whirls on her way]

[Quick smiles, sharp tears]

[There's plenty of credit in life at first]

[Good luck and bad luck come to all]

[Good luck's no use unless you can]

[Good Luck, the merry rambler, shuns]

[Love first, Work second]

[Flung out of Dreamland into cold harsh Day]

[For bodily or mental food]

[The healthy man loves life; you love it not]

[Let not man, ignorant and weak]

[To what good end shall ear be lent]

[In every trouble, say—]

[How is it that Man's mere phantasy]

[How easily go things astray!]

[In the midst of labour and folly and strife]

[“All away?”]

Positive truth.

[Be not impatient, O Soul]

[section]

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118

[A base and selfish discontent]

A base and selfish discontent
From hell is sent;
A noble discontent is given
Direct from Heaven.
That, cowardice and low desires
Fill with unrest;
This, the soul's longing that aspires
To find the Best.