YES! every man worth calling so Does in his heart a serpent own, Established there as on a throne, Which answers Don't!--when you say Do. Fix your eyes on the tempting gaze, Which does seductive beauty raise; The tooth says--Heed to duty give! Have children to succeed, plant trees, Your heart let verse or sculpture please; The tooth says--Hast one day to live? Howe'er he hope or plan, good sooth! Man cannot live one moment's space, Nor 'scape, nor silence, nor efface The warning of the serpent's tooth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STANZAS IN MEMORY OF THE AUTHOR OF OBERMANN by MATTHEW ARNOLD POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY by ROBERT BURNS ODE FOR MEMORIAL DAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE BRIDE by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE THE LONELY STREET by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS FATHERHOOD by HENRY CHARLES BEECHING |