John Boyle O'Reilly - How shall I a habit break? As you did that habit make, As you gathered, you

How shall I a habit break? As you did that habit make, As you gathered, you must lose; As you yielded, now refuse, Thread by thread the strands we twist Till they bind us neck and wrist, Thread by thread the patient hand Must untwine ere free we stan

- John Boyle O'Reilly

source: John Boyle O'Reilly (1913). “Selected Poems”

topic: Hands, Twists, Necks