Sorrow
1814-1902
COUNT each affliction, whether light or grave,
God's messenger sent down to thee; do thou
With courtesy receive him; rise and bow;
And, ere his shadow pass thy threshold, crave
Permission first his heavenly feet to lave;
Then lay before him all thou hast; allow
No cloud of passion to usurp thy brow,
Or mar thy hospitality; no wave
Of mortal tumult to obliterate
The soul's marmoreal calmness: Grief should be,
Like joy, majestic, equable, sedate;
Confirming, cleansing, raising, making free;
Strong to consume small troubles; to commend
Great thoughts, grave thoughts, thoughts lasting to the end.
DayPoems Poem No. 682
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/682.html">Sorrow by Aubrey De Vere</a>
The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor
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