An Epic of Women and Other Poems By Arthur W. E. O'Shaughnessy |
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THE HEART'S QUESTIONS |
 | An Epic of Women and Other Poems |  |
204
THE HEART'S QUESTIONS
When the heaven is blue,
Or the stars look down,
Or the golden crown
Glows upon the hills,—
Or the stars look down,
Or the golden crown
Glows upon the hills,—
When the sky of tears
Lets the sunlight through,
And the heart a moment thrills,
Yea, and utters too,—
Lets the sunlight through,
And the heart a moment thrills,
Yea, and utters too,—
Who discerns? who hears?
Who but I—and perhaps You?
Who but I—and perhaps You?
205
When some thin thought-wave
From the shadow shore
Brings the Voice once more
From beyond the grave;
From the shadow shore
Brings the Voice once more
From beyond the grave;
When some pain is prest
Deep into the breast,
And the inward thoughts are swords
Killing one with sadness;
Deep into the breast,
And the inward thoughts are swords
Killing one with sadness;
Most when love is strong,
And the anguish long
Rolls up in a haste of words
Ending all in madness—
And the anguish long
Rolls up in a haste of words
Ending all in madness—
Who is he that soothes or cheers?
Who believes? who hears?
Ay, when the Heart grieves,
Who believes? who hears?
Pants, prays—who believes?—
206
Ay, when the Heart cries,
When it breaks, when it dies,—
(Ah, why was the Heart born!—)
Who shall save? who shall mourn?
When it breaks, when it dies,—
(Ah, why was the Heart born!—)
Who shall save? who shall mourn?
| An Epic of Women and Other Poems | |