Byron And The Angel

Poet:     "Why this fever why this sighing?     Why this restless longing dying     For a something dreamy something,     Undefined, and yet defying     All the pride and power of manhood?     "O these years of sin and sorrow!     Smiling while the iron harrow     Of a keen and biting longing     Tears and quivers in the marrow     Of my being every moment     Of my very inmost being.     "What to me the mad ambition     For men's praise and proud position     Struggling, fighting to the summit     Of its vain and earthly mission,     To lie down on bed of ashes     Bed of barren, bitter ashes?     "Cure this fever? I have tried it;     Smothered, drenched it and defied it     With a will of brass and iron;     Every smile and look denied it;     Yet it heeded not denying,     And it mocks at my defying     While my very soul is dying.     "Is there balm in Gilead? tell me!     Nay no balm to soothe and quell me?     Must I tremble in this fever?     Death, O lift thy hand and fell me;     Let me sink to rest forever     Where this burning cometh never.     "Sometimes when this restless madness     Softens down to mellow sadness,     I look back on sun-lit valleys     Where my boyish heart of gladness     Nestled without pain or longing     Nestled softly in a vision     Full of love and hope's fruition,     Lulled by morning songs of spring-time.     "Then I ponder, and I wonder     Was some heart-chord snapped asunder     When the threads were soft and silken?     Did some fatal boyish blunder     Plant a canker in my bosom     That hath ever burned and rankled?     "O this thirsting, thirsting hanker!     O this burning, burning canker'     Driving Peace and Hope to shipwreck     Without rudder, without anchor,     On the reef-rocks of Damnation!"     Invisible Angel:     "Jesus Son of Virgin Mary;     Lift the burden from the weary:     Pity, Jesus, and anoint him     With the holy balm of Gilead."     Poet:     "Yea, Christ Jesus, pour thy blessings     On these terrible heart-pressings:     O I bless thee, unseen Angel;     Lead me teach me, holy Spirit."     Angel:     "There is balm in Gilead!     There is balm in Gilead!     Peace awaits thee with caressings     Sitting at the feet of Jesus     At the right-hand of Jehovah     At the blessed feet of Jesus; Alleluia!"