Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HE KISSED THE LIPS OF AMBITION, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HE KISSED THE LIPS OF AMBITION, by                    
First Line: Oh, he kissed the lips of ambition
Last Line: A broken down reed, unsung!
Subject(s): Ambition


Oh, he kissed the lips of Ambition,
For the jade was sweet and fair,
Oh, he kissed the lips of Ambition
With never a burdened care,
For his blood was hot with yearnings
To do, and to be,—and then
To feast and to laugh with his earnings
And buy of the power of men!

Oh, the jade was as fair as Morning,
Youth's kiss was returned with smile,
He saw not the clouds aborning
Nor searched in her eyes for guile,
And he laughed, oh, he laughed, when neighbors
Advised with their lips, "Beware!"
For Ambition had piped to his labors,
Yes, the jade was sweet and fair!

Oh, he kissed the lips of Ambition;
The time of his youth was spent,
Then he damned the lips of Ambition
For his youth's impoverishment,
For the hag of wisdom bereft him,
And the wealth that he earned, she flung
To the four winds of Earth, and she left him,
A broken down reed, unsung!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net