| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | A Wedding Sonnet | | By James Berry Bensel (1856–1886) |
| | | IT were an idle thing, good friends, to say | |
| No after grief be yours! The rose may blow | |
| In beauty, but the thorn as well must grow; | |
| And though a brilliant sun brings in the day, | |
| Lo, a small cloud,—a hair-breadth’s size, we ’ll say— | 5 |
| May spread until it hides the splendid glow. | |
| Then let me pray these for you as you go: | |
| Sweet Patience, calm Content, and all the way | |
| You travel, white robed Peace: then at your side, | |
| When Grief shall come she will come silently | 10 |
| And powerless to harm. Ay: you will take | |
| Her hand submissively, and bid her bide | |
| At will within your walls. So you may be | |
| Happy and glad with Grief for Love’s dear sake. | | | | |
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