The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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 | The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti |  |
Unforgotten.
Oh unforgotten!
How long ago? one spirit saith:
As long as life even unto death,
The passage of a poor frail breath.
How long ago? one spirit saith:
As long as life even unto death,
The passage of a poor frail breath.
Oh unforgotten:
An unforgotten load of love,
A load of grief all griefs above,
A blank blank nest without its dove.
An unforgotten load of love,
A load of grief all griefs above,
A blank blank nest without its dove.
As long as time is—
No longer? time is but a span
The dalliance space of empty man;
And is this all immortals can?—
No longer? time is but a span
The dalliance space of empty man;
And is this all immortals can?—
Ever and ever,
Beyond all time, beyond all space;—
Now, shadow darkening heart and face,—
Then, glory in a glorious place.
Beyond all time, beyond all space;—
Now, shadow darkening heart and face,—
Then, glory in a glorious place.
Sad heart and spirit
Bowed now yea broken for a while,
Lagging and toiling mile by mile
Yet pressing toward the eternal smile.
Bowed now yea broken for a while,
Lagging and toiling mile by mile
Yet pressing toward the eternal smile.
Oh joy eternal!—
Oh youth eternal without flaw!—
Thee not the blessed angels saw
Rapt in august adoring awe.
Oh youth eternal without flaw!—
Thee not the blessed angels saw
Rapt in august adoring awe.
Not the dead have thee,
Not yet O all surpassing peace;
Not till this veiling world shall cease
And harvest yield its whole increase.
Not yet O all surpassing peace;
Not till this veiling world shall cease
And harvest yield its whole increase.
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Not the dead know thee,
Not dead nor living nor unborn:
Who in the new sown field at morn
Can measure out the harvest corn?—
Not dead nor living nor unborn:
Who in the new sown field at morn
Can measure out the harvest corn?—
Yet they shall know thee;
And we with them, and unborn men
With us, shall know and have thee when
The single grain shall wax to ten.
And we with them, and unborn men
With us, shall know and have thee when
The single grain shall wax to ten.
| The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | |