Maxims

John Le Gay Brereton 1871 (Sydney) – 1933



The heart is hard that cannot feel
The bruising of a light appeal.

The heart is deaf that cannot hear
The splashing of a tiny tear.

The heart is dumb that cannot say
“God speed you, comrades,” night and day.

The heart is blind that cannot see
The beckoning soul of mystery.

The heart is lame that cannot rise
From clamouring earth to silent skies.

And O that heart were better dead
That truckles to the prudent head

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

24 sec read
68

Quick analysis:

Scheme AA XX BB CC DD EE
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 416
Words 81
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2

John Le Gay Brereton

John Le Gay Brereton was an Australian poet, critic and professor of English at the University of Sydney. He was the first president of the Fellowship of Australian Writers when it was formed in Sydney in 1928. more…

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