David’s Child

IN face of a great sorrow like to death How do we wrestle night and day with tears; How do we fast and pray; how small appears The outside world, while, hanging on some breath Of fragile hope, the chamber where we lie Includes all space.--But if sudden at last The blow falls; or by incredulity Fond led, we--never having one thought cast Towards years where 'the child' was not--see it die, And with it all our future, all our past,-- We just look round us with a dull surprise: For lesser pangs we had filled earth with cries Of wild and angry grief that would be heard:-- But when the heart is broken--not a word.