By Goodness and by Evil

By goodness and by evil so surrounded, how can the heart
Maintain a quiet beat?
It races like an idling engine, shaking the whole machine;
And the skin of the inner wrist is blue and green
And yellow, where it has been pounded.

Or else, reluctant to repeat
Bright battles ending always in defeat,
From sadness and discouragement it all but fails;
And the warm blood welling slowly from the weary heart
Before it reaches wrist or temple cools,
Collects in little pools
Along its way, and wishes to remain there, while the face pales,
And diastole and systole meet.