[1] The irresponsive silence of the land,
\nThe irresponsive sounding of the sea,
\nSpeak both one message of one sense to me: \u201d\u201d
\nAloof, aloof, we stand aloof, so stand
\nThou too aloof bound with the flawless band
\nOf inner solitude; we bind not thee;
\nBut who from thy self\u201d\u201dchain shall set thee free?
\nWhat heart shall touch thy heart? what hand thy hand?\u201d\u201d
\nAnd I am sometimes proud and sometimes meek,
\nAnd sometimes I remember days of old
\nWhen fellowship seemed not so far to seek
\nAnd all the world and I seemed much less cold,
\nAnd at the rainbow\u2019s foot lay surely gold,
\nAnd hope felt strong and life itself not weak.
\n[2] Thus am I mine own prison. Everything
\nAround me free and sunny and at ease:
\nOr if in shadow, in a shade of trees
\nWhich the sun kisses, where the gay birds sing
\nAnd where all winds make various murmuring;
\nWhere bees are found, with honey for the bees;
\nWhere sounds are music, and where silences
\nAre music of an unlike fashioning.
\nThen gaze I at the merrymaking crew,
\nAnd smile a moment and a moment sigh
\nThinking: Why can I not rejoice with you ?
\nBut soon I put the foolish fancy by:
\nI am not what I have nor what I do;
\nBut what I was I am, I am even I.<\/p>\n
[3]Therefore myself is that one only thing
\nI hold to use or waste, to keep or give;
\nMy sole possession every day I live,
\nAnd still mine own despite Time\u2019s winnowing.
\nEver mine own, while moons and seasons bring
\nFrom crudeness ripeness mellow and sanative;
\nEver mine own, till Death shall ply his sieve;
\nAnd still mine own, when saints break grave and sing.
\nAnd this myself as king unto my King
\nI give, to Him Who gave Himself for me;
\nWho gives Himself to me, and bids me sing
\nA sweet new song of His redeemed set free;
\nHe bids me sing: O death, where is thy sting?
\nAnd sing: O grave, where is thy victory?<\/p>\n
\u2013Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[1] The irresponsive silence of the land, The irresponsive sounding of the sea, Speak both one message of one sense to me: \u201d\u201d Aloof, aloof, we stand aloof, so stand Thou too aloof bound with the flawless band Of inner…<\/span><\/p>\n