 | The poetical works of Lucy Larcom |  |
261
NEED AND WISH.
I need not what I cannot have:
The north wind swept from me this folly,—
With lazy, fretful whine to crave
Some comfort against melancholy,
Which haunts us all, when dreams go by
Of what might be, if life were other
Than life is; therefore every sigh
In working-songs I strive to smother.
The north wind swept from me this folly,—
With lazy, fretful whine to crave
Some comfort against melancholy,
Which haunts us all, when dreams go by
Of what might be, if life were other
Than life is; therefore every sigh
In working-songs I strive to smother.
You need not what you cannot have,
Though torrid gusts of hopeless passion
Amid your fancies moan and rave,
And mould your words to fiery fashion.
What if your wild desire would seize
Some other heart's delight and glory?
Fate reigns not your one will to please;
Not yours the only tragic story.
Though torrid gusts of hopeless passion
Amid your fancies moan and rave,
And mould your words to fiery fashion.
What if your wild desire would seize
Some other heart's delight and glory?
Fate reigns not your one will to please;
Not yours the only tragic story.
None needs the thing he cannot have:
The gods know how to give right measure:
Through seeming loss our souls they save;
They will not leave us slaves of pleasure.
Yet from his longings who would rest?
To claim, to seek with firm endeavor,
Better that still transcends our best,—
By this path climbs the soul forever.
The gods know how to give right measure:
Through seeming loss our souls they save;
They will not leave us slaves of pleasure.
Yet from his longings who would rest?
To claim, to seek with firm endeavor,
Better that still transcends our best,—
By this path climbs the soul forever.
| The poetical works of Lucy Larcom | |