Exaggeration

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning — a poem card from Justes Mots

The poet critiques humanity's tendency to amplify small sorrows through imagination, robbing themselves of joy and dishonoring Christ's redemptive suffering. Barrett Browning calls readers toward gratitude and proper perspective. Ideal for encouraging those prone to despair or self-pity to find meaning in sacrifice.

We overstate the ills of life, and take
Imagination (given us to bring down
The choirs of singing angels overshone
By God's clear glory) down our earth to rake
The dismal snows instead, flake following flake,
To cover all the corn; we walk upon
The shadow of hills across a level thrown,
And pant like climbers: near the alder brake…

Themes: birthday · friendship · encouragement · reflection