Who wrote this poem?

May 12, 2013 11:46 AM

Who wrote the following (religious?) poem?

The poem mentioned here does not show the author, or the full source. Does anyone know who wrote it, and where I can find out more? Somebody said thought "Shafto Stevens", but he doesn't seem Google-fahig.

“Life is a burden; bear it;
Life is a duty; dare it;
Life is a thorn crown; wear it.
Though it break your heart in twain,
Though the burden crush you down;
Close your lips and hide your pain;
First the cross, and then the crown.”

“Every rose of life, and every thorn,
Is consecrated by remembrance sweet– 
Because once long ago Love did not scorn
To tread the wilderness with bleeding feet.”

posted by ar0n to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

Best answer: the second part is Alfred Lord Tennyson for sure

the first part is attributed to Edith Jenkinson

http://goo.gl/soztm
posted by bobdow at 12:03 PM on May 12, 2013

The first part is also found in 'Poems of Father Ryan', 1879, see also Wikipedia
posted by cobaltnine at 12:09 PM on May 12, 2013

Response by poster: Great, thanks bobdow and cobaltnine!
posted by ar0n at 12:43 PM on May 12, 2013

apparently Father Ryan was quite the character:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abram_Joseph_Ryan
posted by bobdow at 12:47 PM on May 12, 2013