Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 18061861681. Grief
I TELL you, hopeless grief is passionless; | |
That only men incredulous of despair, | |
Half-taught in anguish, through the midnight air | |
Beat upward to God’s throne in loud access | |
Of shrieking and reproach. Full desertness | 5 |
In souls as countries lieth silent-bare | |
Under the blanching, vertical eye-glare | |
Of the absolute Heavens. Deep-hearted man, express | |
Grief for thy Dead in silence like to death— | |
Most like a monumental statue set | 10 |
In everlasting watch and moveless woe | |
Till itself crumble to the dust beneath. | |
Touch it; the marble eyelids are not wet: | |
If it could weep, it could arise and go. |