I would have wept with the beast,The bird, the blossoming flower,The hundred years of the oak,Or the insect born for an hour,Saying with my soul's rightAh, woe for your body's pain!Therein you must die, and passInto dust, without hope of gain.From the weary feet's toiling to springTo oblivion, and never to knowThat the horrible pains of the fleshYou have left in the body below;That He leaves you an heirdom of pain,And forgets you when dropped from His handThat had mercy for us; you would dieIn your grief, could you understand.But the oxen looked up as I spoke,For a moment in mild surprise,Then bent again to the yoke,With peace in their dreaming eyes.And a small brown bird on her nestHid her speckled eggs with care,Lest one should chill while her mateSang high in the golden air.
Still the flower and tree 'neath the sunUnfolded their buds to bloom;And the fly, clad in sombre grey,Danced over the faint perfume.And the sun coming forth from a cloudShone fair on a smiling land.I said Hush, questioning heart;'Tis you cannot understand.
Still the flower and tree 'neath the sunUnfolded their buds to bloom;And the fly, clad in sombre grey,Danced over the faint perfume.And the sun coming forth from a cloudShone fair on a smiling land.I said Hush, questioning heart;'Tis you cannot understand.
About the author
288 works
About the poet
Dora Sigerson (1866–1918) was an Irish poet, who after her marriage in 1895 wrote under the name Dora Sigerson Shorter. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of George Sigerson, a surgeon and writer, and Hester (née Varian) also a writer. She was a major figure of the Irish Literary revival, publishing many collections of poetry from 1893. Her friends included Katharine Tynan, a noted Irish-born poet and author.
Her husband was Clement King Shorter, an English journalist and literary critic. They lived together in London, until her death.
and writer, and Hester (née Varian) also a writer. She was a major figure of the Irish Literary rev
Show full text