 | The Cup of Quietness |  |
5
ONE THING WANTING
Not for the gift of strength that cannot tire,
Not for a fuller, nobler, sphere of strife,
Nor purer draughts of joy, do I desire
An after life.
Not for a fuller, nobler, sphere of strife,
Nor purer draughts of joy, do I desire
An after life.
Here 'tis no paltry warfare; if death ends
The fight, then death is rest, and rest is gain;
And life had moments that made large amends
For all its pain.
The fight, then death is rest, and rest is gain;
And life had moments that made large amends
For all its pain.
Nor do I greatly long to see unfurled
The scroll of fate, the clouds dispelled from earth;
The shadow and the mystery of the world
Are half its worth.
The scroll of fate, the clouds dispelled from earth;
The shadow and the mystery of the world
Are half its worth.
One boon alone I covet, here denied,—
Commune of soul with soul, skill to remove
The veils that keep our lives apart and hide
The truth of love;
Commune of soul with soul, skill to remove
The veils that keep our lives apart and hide
The truth of love;
6
To feel from heart to heart emotions pass,
The deep content of spiritual embrace;
To see no longer darkly through a glass,
But face to face.
The deep content of spiritual embrace;
To see no longer darkly through a glass,
But face to face.
Love is a hunger never here appeased,
A question never answered; vainly speech
Pursueth; long ere love's intent be seized,
'Tis out of reach.
A question never answered; vainly speech
Pursueth; long ere love's intent be seized,
'Tis out of reach.
I fear no disenchantment; I would prove
That here things seem less precious than they are;
My faith is, that the hearts of those I love
Are greater far
That here things seem less precious than they are;
My faith is, that the hearts of those I love
Are greater far
Than thought can comprehend, or tongue express;
If death reveal love's truth, then I rejoice
To die; meanwhile a silent wistfulness
Is love's best voice.
If death reveal love's truth, then I rejoice
To die; meanwhile a silent wistfulness
Is love's best voice.
| The Cup of Quietness | |