Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SHAME, by JAMES STEPHENS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SHAME, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I was ashamed! I dared not lift my eyes!
Last Line: That this mad mockery was all my own!
Subject(s): Shame


I was ashamed! I dared not lift my eyes!
I could not bear to look upon the skies!
What I had done! sure, everybody knew!
From everywhere hands pointed where I stood,
And scornful eyes were piercing through and through
The moody armour of my hardihood!

I heard their voices too, each word an asp
That buzz'd and stung me sudden as a flame!
And all the world was jolting on my name!
And now and then there came a wicked rasp
Of laughter, jarring me to deeper shame!

And then I looked, and there was no one nigh!
No eyes that stabbed like swords or glinted sly!
No laughter creaking on the silent air!
-- And then I saw that I was all alone
Facing my soul! And next I was aware
That this mad mockery was all my own!





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