Seventy Times Seven

Let rain discover
Some other door
I shall not uncover
Mine any more

The pale voices quicken
On the dark pane
Gather and thicken
In low refrain.

Bird and bee are lying
Under their leaf
My heart is crying
Its ancient grief.

Where under heaven
Can it be done—
Seventy times seven
Is only one.

Original Citation

Country Men (1937) xxv, (1938) 45, (1943) 52.

Word Count
55
Original Publication
Country Men
Date Published
1937
Book Appearance
Country Men 1937
Country Men 1938
Country Men 1943
Complete Poems
28
Theme(s)
forgiveness
loneliness
First Line
Let the rain discover
Poetic Form
closed
References and Commentary

Seventy times seven is a reference to Matthew 18:21-22, a verse about forgiveness.

Twitter Quote
The pale voices quicken / On the dark pane / Gather and thicken / In low refrain.