tombs, spooky old woods, and now you see

bloodbound

God strengthen me to bear myself;
That heaviest weight of all to bear,
Inalienable weight of care.
All others are outside myself;
I lock my door and bar them out
The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.
I lock my door upon myself,
And bar them out; but who shall wall
Self from myself, most loathed of all?
If I could once lay down myself,
And start self-purged upon the race
That all must run! Death runs apace.
If I could set aside myself,
And start with lightened heart upon
The road by all men overgone!
God harden me against myself,
This coward with pathetic voice
Who craves for ease and rest and joys
Myself, arch-traitor to myself ;
My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe,
My clog whatever road I go.
Yet One there is can curb myself,
Can roll the strangling load from me
Break off the yoke and set me free.

                                                            Chistina Rossetti "Who Shall Deliver Me?"

symbolized by a trance or sudden spiritual transfiguration.

                                             Who is this? And what is here?

                                        And in the lighted palace near

                                        Died the sound of royal cheer;

                                       And they crossed themselves for fear,

                                          All the Knights at Camelot;

                                        But Lancelot mused a little space

                                       He said, "She has a lovely face;

                                      God in hus mercy lend her grace,

                                           The Lady of Shalott."

                                                                               Alfred Tennyson

John William Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott. 1888