I pray you, Sadness, leave me soon,
In sweet invention thou art poor!
Thy sister, Joy can make ten songs
While thou art making four.
One hour with thee is sweet enough;
But when we find the whole day gone
And no created thing is left --
We mourn the evil done.
Thou art too slow to shape thy thoughts
In stone, on canvas, or in song;
But Joy, being full of active heat,
Must do some deed ere long.
Thy sighs are gentle, sweet thy tears;
But if thou canst not help a man
To prove in substance what he feels --
Then givve me Joy, who can.
Therefore sweet Sadness, leave me soon,
Let thy bright sister, Joy, come more;
For she can make ten lovely songs
While thou art making four.
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Comments2REMEMBER READING THIS WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES POEM WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. REALLY TOUCHED ME AT THE TIME AND STILL DOES TODAY. I LOVE HOW HE PAINTS THE PICTURE OF SADNESS AND JOY, HIS COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO IS DEEPLY AFFECTING. 😊📚 IT MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF BOTH IN LIFE. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS. 🙏👏💕
I remember reading this poem as a kid. Its message on embracing joy over sadness still resonates with me.