The Breath of Life

 I’D like to lift the threads of life

And weave them on a loom¹

And make a pattern beautiful,

As any day in June.

I’d put ten thousand violets

And shimmering² leaves of green,

Around the edge and over it,

To hide each vulgar seam.

Because, death brushed me with dark wings,

Reluctant passed me by,

I take the threads of life again

And weave and smile and sigh.

But if I had a God-like power

Omnipotence³ of mind,

To put the tho’t of suffering

And death a league behind.

Life would be violets to me

Much sweeter than a dream.

The pattern on my loom would show

No raw and ghastly seam.{37}

But then methinks it is because

Of what the looms⁴ disclose.

The breath of life is sweeter

Than the fragrance⁵ of a rose.

1 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

2 shimmering   

v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。
• The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句

3 omnipotence   

n.全能，万能，无限威力

参考例句：

• Central bankers have never had any illusions of their own omnipotence. 中行的银行家们已经不再对于他们自己的无所不能存有幻想了。 来自互联网
• Introduce an omnipotence press automatism dividing device, explained it operation principle. 介绍了冲压万能自动分度装置，说明了其工作原理。 来自互联网

4 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。