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Read more poems by Robert Service: Robert Service Poems at Poetry X.

Because my eyes were none to bright
       Strong spectacles I bought,
And lo! there sprang into my sight
       A life beyond my thought:
A world of wonder and delight
       My magic lenses brought.
       
Aye, sudden leaping in my sight
       The far became the near;
Life unbelievably was bright,
       And vividly was clear.
My heart was lifted with delight,
       Then--then I shrank in fear.

For faces I had thought were gay
       I saw were lined with care,
While strange corruption and decay
       Surprised me everywhere:
Dismayed I put my specs away,--
       Such truth I could not bear.

And now I do not want to see
       With clarity of view;
For while there's heaven hell may be
       More tragically true:
Though dim may be Reality,
       Sheer love shines through.

Added: 25 Mar 2002 | Last Read: 21 Nov 2008 9:41 AM | Viewed: 2435 times

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