The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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THE TIME OF WAITING. |
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The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||
THE TIME OF WAITING.
Life is fleeting, joy is fleeting,
Coldness follows love and greeting,
Parting still succeeds to meeting.
Coldness follows love and greeting,
Parting still succeeds to meeting.
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If I say, “Rejoice today,”
Sorrow meets me in the way,
I cannot my will obey.
Sorrow meets me in the way,
I cannot my will obey.
If I say, “My grief shall cease;
Now then I will live in peace:”
My cares instantly increase.
Now then I will live in peace:”
My cares instantly increase.
When I look up to the sky,
Thinking to see light on high,
Clouds my searching glance defy.
Thinking to see light on high,
Clouds my searching glance defy.
When I look upon the earth
For the flowers that should have birth,
I find dreariness and dearth.
For the flowers that should have birth,
I find dreariness and dearth.
And the wind sighs on for ever,
Murmurs still the flowing river,
On the graves the sun-beams quiver.
Murmurs still the flowing river,
On the graves the sun-beams quiver.
And destruction waxes bold,
And the earth is growing old,
And I tremble in the cold.
And the earth is growing old,
And I tremble in the cold.
And my weariness increases
To an ache that never ceases,
And a pain that ne'er decreases.
To an ache that never ceases,
And a pain that ne'er decreases.
And the times are turbulent,
And the Holy Church is rent,
And who tremble or repent?
And the Holy Church is rent,
And who tremble or repent?
And loud cries do ever rise
To the portals of the skies
From our earthly miseries;
To the portals of the skies
From our earthly miseries;
From love slighted, not requited;
From high hope that should have lighted
All our path up, now benighted;
From high hope that should have lighted
All our path up, now benighted;
From the woes of human kind;
From the darkness of the mind;
From all anguish undefined;
From the darkness of the mind;
From all anguish undefined;
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From the heart that's crushed and sinking;
From the brain grown blank with thinking;
From the spirit sorrow drinking.
From the brain grown blank with thinking;
From the spirit sorrow drinking.
All cry out with pleading strong:
“Vengeance, Lord; how long, how long
Shall we suffer this great wrong?”
“Vengeance, Lord; how long, how long
Shall we suffer this great wrong?”
And the pleading and the cry
Of earth's sons are heard on high,
And are noted verily.
Of earth's sons are heard on high,
And are noted verily.
When this world shall be no more,
The Oppressors shall endure
The great Vengeance, which is sure.
The Oppressors shall endure
The great Vengeance, which is sure.
And the sinful shall remain
To an endless death and pain;
But the good shall live again,
To an endless death and pain;
But the good shall live again,
Never more to be oppressed;
Balm shall heal the bleeding breast,
And the weary be at rest.
Balm shall heal the bleeding breast,
And the weary be at rest.
All shall vanish of dejection,
Grief, and fear, and imperfection,
In that glorious Resurrection.
Grief, and fear, and imperfection,
In that glorious Resurrection.
Heed not then a night of sorrow,
If the dawning of the morrow
From past grief fresh beams shall borrow.
If the dawning of the morrow
From past grief fresh beams shall borrow.
Thankful for whate'er is given,
Strive we, as we ne'er have striven,
For love's sake to be forgiven.
Strive we, as we ne'er have striven,
For love's sake to be forgiven.
Then, the dark clouds opening,
Ev'n to us the sun shall bring
Gladness; and sweet flowers shall spring.
Ev'n to us the sun shall bring
Gladness; and sweet flowers shall spring.
For Christ's guiding Love alway,
For the everlasting Day,
For meek patience, let us pray.
For the everlasting Day,
For meek patience, let us pray.
The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||