Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
VI. Human ExperienceLow Spirits
Frederick William Faber (18141863)F
And disappointed strife,
All chafing, unsuccessful things,
Make up the sum of life.
And sameness doubles cares,
While one unbroken chain of work
The flagging temper wears.
The streets resound with noise;
And the soul sinks to see its peers
Chasing their joyless joys.
Kind welcomes to be had;
And yet my spirit is alone,
Fretful, outworn, and sad.
Be quit of my long part;
The burden of unquiet life
Lies heavy on my heart.
As thou hast done before;
Wake up, and tears will wake with thee,
And the dull mood be o’er.
Without or praise or prayer,
Gives light to know, and life to do,
And marvellous strength to bear.
Unto a heart unstrung,
Like sweet bells at the evening time,
Most musically rung.
Beauty or blest abode,
But the mere unexpanded thought
Of the eternal God.
Not even that he is;
Words fail it, but it is a thought
Which by itself is bliss.
That I may feel thee near,
As one who for his weapon feels
In some nocturnal fear.
When sadness makes us lowly,
As though thou wert the echo sweet
Of humble melancholy.
To spirits over free!
More helpless need of thee!
And for all things that make me feel.