The Mind

Resignation

by Albert Giraud 1860–1929

Translated by Jethro Bithell (1911) · From Contemporary Belgian Poetry (1911)

The Mind

I have fought against myself, I have cried in pain,
Writhed breathless in my wounded spirit's night,
And with my life in rags, a piteous sight,
I come out of the Hell which is my brain.

I know full well to-day, my dream was mad;
My love of autumn was a crime, no doubt;
And like a nail I tear the yearning out
That my too simple heart for childhood had.

My cross! Lance in my side! I bring to you
This verse like Christmas evenings white and calm,
When the sovran palpitation of the palm
Hovers against the heaven's freezing blue;

This verse whereinto all my grief shall pass,
Verse of a man resigned, misunderstood,
Verse into which my love must shed its blood,
Long bleeding, like a sunset on stained glass.

MLA

Giraud, Albert. “Resignation.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/albert-giraud/7/.

Chicago

Giraud, Albert. “Resignation.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/albert-giraud/7/.

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