Nature

(a Man Speaks.)

by Jean Ingelow 1820–1897

From Poems by Jean Ingelow, In Two Volumes, Volume II.

Nature

Once, a new world, the sunswart marinere,
Columbus, promised, and was sore withstood,
Ungraced, unhelped, unheard for many a year;
But let at last to make his promise good.
Promised and promising I go, most dear,
To better my dull heart with love's sweet feud,
My life with its most reverent hope and fear,
And my religion, with fair gratitude.
O we must part; the stars for me contend,
And all the winds that blow on all the seas.
Through wonderful waste places I must wend,
And with a promise my sad soul appease.
Promise then, promise much of far-off bliss;
But--ah, for present joy, give me one kiss.

MLA

Ingelow, Jean. “(a Man Speaks.).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ingelow/137/.

Chicago

Ingelow, Jean. “(a Man Speaks.).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ingelow/137/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Jean Ingelow