My Comforter

Use Tab to move through poem lines. Press Enter or Space to select a line. Hold Shift while selecting a second line to create a shared range.

1. Well hast thou spoken, and yet not taught
2. A feeling strange or new;
3. Thou hast but roused a latent thought,
4. A cloud-closed beam of sunshine brought
5. To gleam in open view.
6.  
7. Deep down, concealed within my soul,
8. That light lies hid from men;
9. Yet glows unquenched--though shadows roll,
10. Its gentle ray cannot control--
11. About the sullen den.
12.  
13. Was I not vexed, in these gloomy ways
14. To walk alone so long?
15. Around me, wretches uttering praise,
16. Or howling o'er their hopeless days,
17. And each with Frenzy's tongue;--
18.  
19. A brotherhood of misery,
20. Their smiles as sad as sighs;
21. Whose madness daily maddened me,
22. Distorting into agony
23. The bliss before my eyes!
24.  
25. So stood I, in Heaven's glorious sun,
26. And in the glare of Hell;
27. My spirit drank a mingled tone,
28. Of seraph's song, and demon's moan;
29. What my soul bore, my soul alone
30. Within itself may tell!
31.  
32. Like a soft, air above a sea,
33. Tossed by the tempest's stir;
34. A thaw-wind, melting quietly
35. The snow-drift on some wintry lea;
36. No: what sweet thing resembles thee,
37. My thoughtful Comforter?
38.  
39. And yet a little longer speak,
40. Calm this resentful mood;
41. And while the savage heart grows meek,
42. For other token do not seek,
43. But let the tear upon my cheek
44. Evince my gratitude!