God strengthen me to bear myself; 
That heaviest weight of all to bear, 
Inalienable weight of care.

All others are outside myself;
I lock my door and bar them out
The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.

I lock my door upon myself, 
And bar them out; but who shall wall 
Self from myself, most loathed of all?

If I could once lay down myself, 
And start self-purged upon the race 
That all must run ! Death runs apace.

If I could set aside myself, 
And start with lightened heart upon 
The road by all men overgone!

God harden me against myself, 
This coward with pathetic voice 
Who craves for ease and rest and joys

Myself, arch-traitor to mysel ; 
My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe, 
My clog whatever road I go.

Yet One there is can curb myself, 
Can roll the strangling load from me 
Break off the yoke and set me free 

Added: Apr 28 2005 | Viewed: 852 times | Comments (0)

Poet: Christina Rossetti
Poem: Who shall deliver me?

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