Cheerfulness Taught By Reason

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning — a poem card from Justes Mots

Barrett Browning urges against excessive complaint in God's world, encouraging the weary soul to find comfort in life's brevity and divine purpose. The poem employs Romantic imagery of travel and pilgrimage to counsel acceptance of hardship. It serves those seeking spiritual encouragement during trials or loss.

I think we are too ready with complaint
In this fair world of God's. Had we no hope
Indeed beyond the zenith and the slope
Of yon gray blank of sky, we might grow faint
To muse upon eternity's constraint
Round our aspirant souls; but since the scope
Must widen early, is it well to droop,
For a few days consumed in loss and taint?…

Themes: sympathy · grief · encouragement · reflection