Love, and Be Wise

John Boyle O'Reilly 1844 (Dowth) – 1890 (Boston)



NOT on the word alone
Let love depend;
Neither by actions done
Choose ye the friend.

Let the slow years fly—
These are the test;
Never to peering eye
Open the breast.

Psyche won hopeless woe,
Reaching to take;
Wait till your lilies grow
Up from the lake.

Gather words patiently;
Harvest the deed;
Let the winged years fly,
Sifting the seed.

Judging by harmony,
Learning by strife;
Seeking in unity
Precept and life.

Seize the supernal—
Prometheus dies;
Take the external
On trust—and be wise.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

26 sec read
49

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXA BCBC DEDE FGBG FHFH BIXI
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 503
Words 88
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

John Boyle O'Reilly

John Boyle O'Reilly was an Irish-born poet, journalist and fiction writer. more…

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