Flame and Shadow/Pain

by Sara Teasdale

For works with similar titles, see Pain.

 

PAIN

Waves are the sea's white daughters,
And raindrops the children of rain,
But why for my shimmering body
Have I a mother like Pain?

Night is the mother of stars,
And wind the mother of foam—
The world is brimming with beauty,
But I must stay at home.