The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
I. |
II. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
III. |
The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||
[Scarce tolerable life, which all life long]
Scarce tolerable life, which all life longIs dominated by one dread of death;
Is such life, life? if so, who pondereth
May call salt sweetness or call discord song.
Ah me, this solitude where swarms a throng!
Life slowly grows and dwindles breath by breath:
Death slowly grows on us; no word it saith,
Its cords all lengthened and its pillars strong.
Life dies apace, a life that but deceives:
Death reigns as tho' it lived, and yet is dead:
Where is the life that dies not but that lives?
The sweet long life, immortal, ever young,
317
Of hope, much said and much more left unsaid.
The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||