| Sir Walter Raleigh (1554?–1618). Poems. 1892. | | | | VII. | | Like Hermit Poor; before 1593 |
| | | LIKE hermit poor in pensive place obscure | |
| I mean to spend my days of endless doubt, | |
| To wail such woes as time cannot recure, | |
| Where nought but love shall ever find me out. | |
| And at my gates despair shall linger still, | 5 |
| To let in death when love and fortune will. | |
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| A gown of grief my body shall attire, | |
| And broken hope shall be my strength and stay; | |
| And late repentance, linked with long desire, | |
| Shall be the couch whereon my limbs I’ll lay. | 10 |
| And at my gates despair shall linger still, | |
| To let in death when love and fortune will. | |
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| My food shall be of care and sorrow made; | |
| My drink nought else but tears fallen from mine eyes; | |
| And for my light, in such obscured shade, | 15 |
| The flames may serve which from my heart arise. | |
| And at my gates despair shall linger still, | |
| To let in death when love and fortune will. | | | | |
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