THANKSGIVING

Could love give strength to thank thee! Love can give

Strong sorrow heart to suffer: what we bear

We would not put away, albeit this were

A burden love might cast aside and live.

Love chooses rather pain than palliative,

Sharp thought than soft oblivion. May we dare

So trample down our passion and our prayer

That fain would cling round feet now fugitive

And stay them — so remember, so forget,

What joy we had who had his presence yet,

What griefs were his while joy in him was ours

And grief made weary music of his breath,

As even to hail his best and last of hours

With love grown strong enough to thank thee, Death?