Social Commentaries

Sonnet: That which is one they shear and make it twain

by Hilaire Belloc 1870–1953

From Sonnets and Verse (1923)

Social Commentaries

That which is one they shear and make it twain
Who would Love’s light and dark discriminate:
His pleasure is one essence with his pain,
Even his desire twin brother to his hate.
With him the foiled attempt is half achieving;
And being mastered, to be armed a lord;
And doubting every chance is still believing;
And losing all one’s own is all reward.

I am acquainted with misfortune’s fortune,
And better than herself her dowry know:
For she that is my fortune and misfortune,
Making me hapless, makes me happier so:
In which conceit, as older men may prove,
Lies manifest the very core of Love.

MLA

Belloc, Hilaire. “Sonnet: That which is one they shear and make it twain.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/belloc/108/.

Chicago

Belloc, Hilaire. “Sonnet: That which is one they shear and make it twain.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/belloc/108/.

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