Griefs Unspoken

Life without love! -- Ah, what a wail goes up
  From this poor world of manifold distress,--
  What thousands drink the dregs of bitterness,
Nor find one drop of honey in the cup.

Life without love! -- O poverty, and shame,
  O vice, O drink, O selishness and care,
  O harpies at each banquet of despair,
Setting how many wretched homes aflame!

Life without love! -- Ye virgin souls that pine
  For some one's love, some cold unconscious one,
  Pale patient plants that never see the sun,--
When will his long-desired glory shine?

Life without love! -- Ye that have miss'd your mates,
  Embitter'd hearts, whom Marriage blights unblest,--
  O nightly daily worry and unrest,
Domestic storms, and never-dying hates!

Life without love! -- Who long can live this life,
  Where patience only hardens by her smile,
  Where peace is nothing but perpetual guile,
And hope's best hope is for a truce of strife?

Life without love! -- This is but living death,
  As love with life were double life to live:
  Kind Heaven,-- in grace some true deliverance give,
And quicken Life with Love's delicious breath!