The Question Whither

George Meredith 1828 (Portsmouth, Hampshire) – 1909 (Box Hill, Surrey)



I

When we have thrown off this old suit,
So much in need of mending,
To sink among the naked mute,
Is that, think you, our ending?
We follow many, more we lead,
And you who sadly turf us,
Believe not that all living seed
Must flower above the surface.

II

Sensation is a gracious gift,
But were it cramped to station,
The prayer to have it cast adrift
Would spout from all sensation.
Enough if we have winked to sun,
Have sped the plough a season;
There is a soul for labour done,
Endureth fixed as reason.

III

Then let our trust be firm in Good,
Though we be of the fasting;
Our questions are a mortal brood,
Our work is everlasting.
We children of Beneficence
Are in its being sharers;
And Whither vainer sounds than Whence,
For word with such wayfarers.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

43 sec read
108

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABXCXC DEDEEEEE XBXBXCXC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 737
Words 145
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

George Meredith

George Meredith was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature seven times. more…

All George Meredith poems | George Meredith Books

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