Have mercy, Thou my God; mercy, my God;
For I can hardly bear life day by day:
Be I here or there I fret myself away:
Lo for Thy staff I have but felt Thy rod
The poem begins with a plea from Rossetti, an address to God, for “mercy”. The imperative is unmistakable, and the poet’s distress is emphasised by the repetition of two key words, “mercy” and “God”. The line is devided into short, choppy phrases that express her emotions.
Out Of The Deep