Classic and Contemporary Poetry
I AM NOT SAD!, by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I am not sad, though sadness seems Last Line: The darkness of a nameless tomb! Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, Isaac Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness | ||||||||
I AM not sad, though sadness seem At times to cloud my brow; I cherished once a foolish dream -- Thank Heaven, 'tis not so now. Truth's sunshine broke, And I awoke To feel 'twas right to bow To Fate's decree, and this my doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb. I grieve not, though a tear may fill This glazed and vacant eye; Old thoughts will rise, do what we will, But soon again they die; An idle gush, And all is hush, The fount is soon run dry: And cheerly now I meet my doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb. I am not mad, although I see Things of no better mould Than I myself am, greedily In Fame's bright page enrolled, That they may tell The story well, What shines may not be gold. No, no! content I court my doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb. The luck is theirs -- the loss is mine, And yet no loss at all; The mighty ones of eldest time, I ask where they did fall? Tell me the one Who e'er could shun Touch with Oblivion's pall? All bear with me an equal doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb. Brave temple and huge pyramid, Hill sepulchred by art, The barrow acre-vast, where hid Moulders some Nimrod's heart; Each monstrous birth Cumbers old earth, But acts a voiceless part, Resolving all to mine own doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb. Tradition with her palsied hand, And purblind History, may Grope and guess well that in this land Some great one lived his day; And what is this, Blind hit or miss, But labour thrown away, For counterparts to mine own doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb? I do not peak and pine away, Lo! this deep bowl I quaff; If sigh I do, you still must say It sounds more like a laugh. 'Tis not too late To separate The good seed from the chaff; And scoff at those who scorn my doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb. I spend no sigh, I shed no tear, Though life's first dream is gone; And its bright picturings now appear Cold images of stone; I've learned to see The vanity Of lusting to be known, And gladly hail my changeless doom, The darkness of a Nameless Tomb! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE DIRGE AT THE END OF THE WOODS by LEONIE ADAMS JEANIE MORRISON by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL |
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