Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/Who shall deliver me?
WHO SHALL DELIVER ME?
GOD strengthen me to bear myself;That heaviest weight of all to bear.Inalienable weight of care.
All others are outside myself;I lock my door and bar them out.The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.
I lock my door upon myself,And bar them out; but who shall wallSelf from myself, most loathed of all?
If I could once lay down myself,And start self-purged upon the raceThat all must run! Death runs apace.
If I could set aside myself,And start with lightened heart uponThe road by all men overgone!
God harden me against myself,This coward with pathetic voiceWho craves for ease, and rest, and joys:
Myself, arch-traitor to myself; My hollo west friend, my deadliest foe, My clog whatever road I go.
Yet One there is can curb myself. Can roll the strangling load from me, Break off the yoke and set me free.