Ode to A Skylark

I grew up loving Ode to a Skylark by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)  It was one of the many Mother resited often to us when we were children  I memorized it.  This part of the poem I have been saying over in my head these past weeks, and thought I would share it with you.                          We look before and after,                         And pine for what is not:                         Our sincerest laughter                         With some pain is fraught;         Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.                     Yet, if we could scorn                        Hate and pride and fear,                     If we were things born                         Not to shed a tear,        I know not how thy joy we ever should come near.     If you would like to read the whole poem go here, it is beautiful. http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=21734