| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 1806–1861 |
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| 681. Grief |
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| I TELL you, hopeless grief is passionless; | |
| That only men incredulous of despair, | |
| Half-taught in anguish, through the midnight air | |
| Beat upward to God's throne in loud access | |
| Of shrieking and reproach. Full desertness | 5 |
| In souls as countries lieth silent-bare | |
| Under the blanching, vertical eye-glare | |
| Of the absolute Heavens. Deep-hearted man, express | |
| Grief for thy Dead in silence like to death— | |
| Most like a monumental statue set | 10 |
| In everlasting watch and moveless woe | |
| Till itself crumble to the dust beneath. | |
| Touch it; the marble eyelids are not wet: | |
| If it could weep, it could arise and go. | |
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