Saturday, April 04, 2020

Saturday Poetry Corner 31: Life


Today two little poems about life - complementing each other.

 

Life 
(by Charlotte Bronte) 

LIFE, believe, is not a dream
 So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
 Foretells a pleasant day.
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
 But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
 O why lament its fall ?

   Rapidly, merrily,
 Life's sunny hours flit by,
   Gratefully, cheerily,
 Enjoy them as they fly !

What though Death at times steps in
 And calls our Best away ?
What though sorrow seems to win,
 O'er hope, a heavy sway ?
Yet hope again elastic springs,
 Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
 Still strong to bear us well.
   Manfully, fearlessly,
 The day of trial bear,
   For gloriously, victoriously,
 Can courage quell despair !

 (from here)


And The Days Are Not Full Enough
(by Ezra Pound) 
And the days are not full enough
And the nights are not full enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
      Not shaking the grass

(from here)