Raison D'Etre

Edith Nesbit 1858 (Kennington, Surrey ) – 1924 (New Romney, Kent)



O WEARY night, O weary day,
When heart's delight is far away!

What is the day? A frame of blue
The vacant-glaring sun grins through.
What is the night? A sable veil
Through which the moon peers tired and pale.

O weary day! O weary night!
How far away is heart's delight!

Love hung the sun in his high place
To give me light to see her face,
And love spread out the veil of night
To hide us two from all men's sight.

O kindly night, O pleasant day,
Your use is gone--why should ye stay?
My heart's delight is far away,
O weary night, O weary day.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
118

Quick analysis:

Scheme Aa bbcc dd eedd aaaA
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 538
Words 111
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 2, 4, 2, 4, 4

Edith Nesbit

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later affiliated to the Labour Party. more…

All Edith Nesbit poems | Edith Nesbit Books

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