"Peace with the vulgar counsel!" -- dost thou say? -- Trumpet no mandates from the throne of sense! Garb not as duty pleasant indolence! Ever the loneliest is the manliest way. Ever the flowers implore my hand to stay And pluck their sweetness; ever some pretence Slides to my soul, and mocks its impotence Of ardour, with some taunt of faltering clay. To fail, and only be as others be? -- All else I bear, all sorrow court but this! Mine own soul's victory I may not miss; And who but I can choose my pains for me?" -- Saith homely love, betwixt a sob and kiss, -- "'Tis I will find thy sacrifice for thee." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DESOLATE FIELD by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THE VISION OF JUDGEMENT by GEORGE GORDON BYRON PREJUDICE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE JEWISH CEMETERY AT NEWPORT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW A SUMMER NIGHT by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL |