Charles Sorley
If I have suffered pain
It is because I would.
I willed it. ’Tis no good
To murmur or complain.
I have not served the law
That keeps the earth so fair
And gives her clothes to wear
Raiment of joy and awe.
For all that bow to bless
That law shall sure abide.
But man shall not abide,
And hence his gloriousness.
Lo, evening earth doth lie
All-beauteous and all peace.
Man only does not cease
From striving and from cry.
Sun sets in peace: and soon
The moon will shower her peace.
O law-abiding moon,
You hold your peace in fee!
Man, leastways, will not be
Down-bounden to these laws.
Man’s spirit sees no cause
To serve such laws as these.
There yet are many seas
For man to wander in.
He yet must find out sin,
If aught of pleasance there
Remain for him to store,
His rovings to increase,
In quest of many a shore
Forbidden still to fare.
Peace sleeps the earth upon,
And sweet peace on the hill.
The waves that whimper still
At their long law-serving
(O flowing sad complaint!)
Come on and are back drawn.
Man only owns no king,
Man only is not faint.
You see, the earth is bound.
You see, the man is free.
For glorious liberty
He suffers and would die.
Grudge not then suffering
Or chastisemental cry.
O let his pain abound,
Earth’s truant and earth’s king!
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
In this poem, the speaker delves into the tension between human nature and the natural order, addressing the theme of suffering and the inherent conflict between mankind’s striving and the peace of the world around them. The speaker acknowledges personal suffering, but instead of lamenting it, they frame it as a conscious choice, as something willed and necessary. This suffering, according to the speaker, is not a random event but a result of human will, a rejection of the calm, natural order that governs the earth.
The poem opens with a sense of resignation, where the speaker admits that their pain is self-inflicted. There’s a direct relationship between human experience and the natural world: “I have not served the law / That keeps the earth so fair.” While the earth exists in peace and balance, humans, in their striving, are constantly restless and in conflict. The contrast between nature’s peacefulness and human turmoil becomes central as the speaker reflects on the laws of nature—laws that bring calm and beauty, such as the setting of the sun and the rising of the moon.
The speaker criticizes mankind’s failure to accept these laws, suggesting that humans, unlike the natural world, refuse to abide by peace and instead seek out struggle. The mention of “many seas” and “many a shore” symbolizes the endless pursuits and desires that lead to discontent and suffering, even when “sweet peace” is offered. The human desire for freedom and self-determination is seen as a double-edged sword: while it allows for greatness and glory, it also brings suffering and eternal striving.
There is also a profound paradox in the poem. The earth is described as “bound,” obedient to the laws of nature, while humanity is “free,” yet that freedom leads to suffering. The speaker seems to suggest that humanity’s inability to accept its place in the natural world, its refusal to be “down-bounden to these laws,” is the source of its torment. The poem implies that this suffering is not something to mourn but rather something to be embraced, as it is part of the human condition—an essential, inevitable aspect of the pursuit of freedom and glory.
The closing lines, with their almost contradictory message, underscore the core tension of the poem: “Grudge not then suffering / Or chastisemental cry. / O let his pain abound, / Earth’s truant and earth’s king!” The speaker calls for an acceptance of suffering as an intrinsic part of being human, even as they position humanity as both a “truant” (one who strays from the natural order) and a “king” (one who seeks to rise above the earth). This tension between the earth’s peace and the ceaseless striving of humanity is left unresolved, as the poem seems to ask if the cost of freedom is ultimately worth the suffering it brings.
The poem’s message is complex, challenging the reader to confront the duality of human nature: our yearning for freedom and glory comes at the price of peace, and the more we seek to escape the natural order, the more we must endure the consequences. Through its stark imagery and philosophical tone, the poem raises questions about the nature of suffering, freedom, and the human condition in relation to the world around us.