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.
(Robert William Service)
More Poetry from Robert William Service:
Robert William Service Poems based on Topics: Life, Mind, World, Thought & Thinking, Hell, Fear, Curiosity, Reality- Fighting Mac (Robert William Service Poems)
- If You Had The Choice Of Two Women To Wed (Robert William Service Poems)
- (The sunshine seeks my little room) (Robert William Service Poems)
- Madam La Maquise (Robert William Service Poems)
- The Mourners (Robert William Service Poems)
- Seville (Robert William Service Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Life Poems, World Poems, Mind Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Fear Poems, Hell Poems, Curiosity Poems, Reality PoemsBased on Keywords: spectacles, vividly, specs, lenses, unbelievably, tragically, then-then