The Burden

The Burden written by Rudyard Kipling

First published in the collection Debits and Credits (1926), accompanying the story The Gardener.

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One grief on me is laid
    Each day of every year,
Wherein no soul can aid,
    Whereof no soul can hear:
Whereto no end is seen
    Except to grieve again —
Ah, Mary Magdalene,
    Where is there greater pain?

To dream on dear disgrace
    Each hour of every day —
To bring no honest face
    To aught I do or say:
To lie from morn till e'en —
    To know my lies are vain —
Ah, Mary Magdalene,
    Where can be greater pain?

To watch my steadfast fear
    Attend mine every way
Each day of every year —
    Each hour of every day:
To burn, and chill between —
    To quake and rage again —
Ah, Mary Magdalene,
    Where shall be greater pain:

One grave to me was given —
    To guard till Judgment Day —
But God looked down from Heaven
    And rolled the Stone away!
One day of all my years —
    One hour of that one day —
His Angel saw my tears
    And rolled the Stone away!