RESTFULNESS.

LLONG time my restless wishes fought and strove,Long time I bent me to the heavy taskOf winning such full recompense of loveAs dream could paint, importunate fancy ask.Morning and night a hunger filled my soul;Ever my eager hands went out to sue;And still I sped toward a shifting goal,And still the horizon widened as I flew.There was no joy in love, but jealous wrath;I walked athirst all day, and did not heedThe wayside brooks which followed by my pathAnd held their cooling threadlets to my need.But now, these warring fancies left behind,I sit in clear air with the sun o’erhead,And take my share, repining not, and findPerpetual feast in just such daily bread:Asking no more than what unasked is sent;Freedom is dearer still than love may be;And I, my dearest, am at last content,Content to love thee and to leave thee free.Love me then not, for pity nor for prayer,But as the sunshine loveth and the rain,Which speed them gladly through the upper airBecause the gracious pathway is made plain.And as we watch the slant lines, gold and dun,Bridge heaven’s distance all intent to bless,And cavil not if we or other oneShall have the larger portion or the less,So with unvexèd eye I mark and seeWhere blessed and blessing your sweet days are spent;And though another win more love from thee,Having my share I am therewith content.

LLONG time my restless wishes fought and strove,Long time I bent me to the heavy taskOf winning such full recompense of loveAs dream could paint, importunate fancy ask.Morning and night a hunger filled my soul;Ever my eager hands went out to sue;And still I sped toward a shifting goal,And still the horizon widened as I flew.There was no joy in love, but jealous wrath;I walked athirst all day, and did not heedThe wayside brooks which followed by my pathAnd held their cooling threadlets to my need.But now, these warring fancies left behind,I sit in clear air with the sun o’erhead,And take my share, repining not, and findPerpetual feast in just such daily bread:Asking no more than what unasked is sent;Freedom is dearer still than love may be;And I, my dearest, am at last content,Content to love thee and to leave thee free.Love me then not, for pity nor for prayer,But as the sunshine loveth and the rain,Which speed them gladly through the upper airBecause the gracious pathway is made plain.And as we watch the slant lines, gold and dun,Bridge heaven’s distance all intent to bless,And cavil not if we or other oneShall have the larger portion or the less,So with unvexèd eye I mark and seeWhere blessed and blessing your sweet days are spent;And though another win more love from thee,Having my share I am therewith content.

LLONG time my restless wishes fought and strove,Long time I bent me to the heavy taskOf winning such full recompense of loveAs dream could paint, importunate fancy ask.

L

LONG time my restless wishes fought and strove,

Long time I bent me to the heavy task

Of winning such full recompense of love

As dream could paint, importunate fancy ask.

Morning and night a hunger filled my soul;Ever my eager hands went out to sue;And still I sped toward a shifting goal,And still the horizon widened as I flew.

Morning and night a hunger filled my soul;

Ever my eager hands went out to sue;

And still I sped toward a shifting goal,

And still the horizon widened as I flew.

There was no joy in love, but jealous wrath;I walked athirst all day, and did not heedThe wayside brooks which followed by my pathAnd held their cooling threadlets to my need.

There was no joy in love, but jealous wrath;

I walked athirst all day, and did not heed

The wayside brooks which followed by my path

And held their cooling threadlets to my need.

But now, these warring fancies left behind,I sit in clear air with the sun o’erhead,And take my share, repining not, and findPerpetual feast in just such daily bread:

But now, these warring fancies left behind,

I sit in clear air with the sun o’erhead,

And take my share, repining not, and find

Perpetual feast in just such daily bread:

Asking no more than what unasked is sent;Freedom is dearer still than love may be;And I, my dearest, am at last content,Content to love thee and to leave thee free.

Asking no more than what unasked is sent;

Freedom is dearer still than love may be;

And I, my dearest, am at last content,

Content to love thee and to leave thee free.

Love me then not, for pity nor for prayer,But as the sunshine loveth and the rain,Which speed them gladly through the upper airBecause the gracious pathway is made plain.

Love me then not, for pity nor for prayer,

But as the sunshine loveth and the rain,

Which speed them gladly through the upper air

Because the gracious pathway is made plain.

And as we watch the slant lines, gold and dun,Bridge heaven’s distance all intent to bless,And cavil not if we or other oneShall have the larger portion or the less,

And as we watch the slant lines, gold and dun,

Bridge heaven’s distance all intent to bless,

And cavil not if we or other one

Shall have the larger portion or the less,

So with unvexèd eye I mark and seeWhere blessed and blessing your sweet days are spent;And though another win more love from thee,Having my share I am therewith content.

So with unvexèd eye I mark and see

Where blessed and blessing your sweet days are spent;

And though another win more love from thee,

Having my share I am therewith content.


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