Renouncement

By Alice Meynell

Born 1850


I MUST not think of thee; and, tired yet strong,
         I shun the love that lurks in all delight--
         The love of thee--and in the blue heaven's height,
And in the dearest passage of a song.
Oh, just beyond the sweetest thoughts that throng
         This breast, the thought of thee waits hidden yet bright;
         But it must never, never come in sight;
I must stop short of thee the whole day long.
But when sleep comes to close each difficult day,
         When night gives pause to the long watch I keep,
And all my bonds I needs must loose apart,
Must doff my will as raiment laid away,--
         With the first dream that comes with the first sleep
I run, I run, I am gather'd to thy heart.

DayPoems Poem No. 827
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/827.html">Renouncement by Alice Meynell</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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