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“Sorrow” by Edwin Muir 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (15 May 18873 Jan 1959)
I do not want it so,
But since things so are made,
Sorrow, sorrow,
Be you my second trade.
I’ll learn the workman’s skill
And mould the mass of ill
Until I have it so, or so,
And want it so.
I cannot have it so
Unless I frankly make
A pact with sorrow
For joy and sorrow’s sake,
And wring from sorrow’s pay
Wealth joy would toss away—
Till both are balanced, so, or so,
And even go.
If it were only so …
But right and left I find
Sorrow, sorrow,
And cannot be resigned,
Knowing that we were made
By joy to drive joy’s trade
And not to waver to and fro,
But quickly go.