21/07/2016

PrologueoftheEarthlyParadise

PublishedonAcademyofAmericanPoets(https://www.poets.org)
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PrologueoftheEarthlyParadise
OfHeavenorHellIhavenopowertosing,
Icannoteasetheburdenofyourfears,
Ormakequickcomingdeathalittlething,
Orbringagainthepleasureofpastyears,
Norformywordsshallyeforgetyourtears,
OrhopeagainforaughtthatIcansay,
Theidlesingerofanemptyday.

Butrather,whenawearyofyourmirth,
Fromfullheartsstillunsatisfiedyesigh,
And,feelingkindlyuntoalltheearth,
Grudgeeveryminuteasitpassesby,
Madethemoremindfulthatthesweetdaysdie
RemembermealittlethenIpray,
Theidlesingerofanemptyday.

Theheavytrouble,thebewilderingcare
Thatweighsusdownwholiveandearnourbread,
Theseidleverseshavenopowertobear;
Soletmesingofnamesremembered,
Becausethey,livingnot,canneerbedead,
Orlongtimetaketheirmemoryquiteaway
Fromuspoorsingersofanemptyday.

Dreamerofdreams,bornoutofmyduetime,
WhyshouldIstrivetosetthecrookedstraight?
Letitsufficemethatmymurmuringrhyme
Beatswithlightwingagainsttheivorygate,
Tellingatalenottooimportunate
Tothosewhointhesleepyregionstay,
Lulledbythesingerofanemptyday.

Folksay,awizardtoanorthernking
AtChristmastidesuchwondrousthingsdidshow,
Thatthroughonewindowmenbeheldthespring,
Andthroughanothersawthesummerglow,
Andthroughathirdthefruitedvinesarow,
Whilestill,unheard,butinitswontedway,
PipedthedrearwindofthatDecemberday.

SowiththisEarthlyParadiseitis,
Ifyewillreadaright,andpardonme,
Whostrivetobuildashadowyisleofbliss
Midmostthebeatingofthesteelysea,
Wheretossedaboutallheartsofmenmustbe;
Whoseraveningmonstersmightymenshallslay,
Notthepoorsingerofanemptyday.

Credit:
Thispoemisinthepublicdomain.
Author:

WilliamMorris
https://www.poets.org/print/node/49611

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21/07/2016

PrologueoftheEarthlyParadise

WilliamMorris,bornMarch24,1834,wasanEnglishwriterwhoauthoredmanybooksofpoetry
andprose,includingTheEarthlyParadise(F.S.Ellis,18681870),TheLifeandDeathofJason:
APoem(BellandDaldy,1867),andTheDefenceofGuenevereandOtherPoems(Belland
Daldy,1858).HediedinLondononOctober3,1896.
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DatePublished:
1868
SourceURL:https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/prologueearthlyparadise

https://www.poets.org/print/node/49611

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