"He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune." -- BACON. AYE, Fortune, thou hast hostage of my best! I, that was once so heedless of thy frown, Have armed thee cap-a-pie to strike me down, Have given thee blades to hold against my breast. My virtue, that was once all self-possessed, Is parceled out in little hands, and brown Bright eyes, and in a sleeping baby's gown: To threaten these will put me to the test. Sure, since there are these pitiful poor chinks Upon the makeshift armor of my heart, For thee no honor lies in such a fight! And thou wouldst shame to vanquish one, methinks, Who came awake with such a painful start To hear the coughing of a child at night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STRANGE HURT [SHE KNOWS] by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES THE HERONS OF ELMWOOD by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW AT THE GRAVE OF BURNS; SEVEN YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH JOLLY NOSE by WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 36. GOLD THE PICKLOCK by PHILIP AYRES WINTER BURIAL by HENRY BELLAMANN THE BIRD FANCIER by WILLIAM ROSE BENET FIGHT! (HARVARD-DARTMOUTH FOOTBALL GAME, 1908) by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE |