I HAVE a bitter Thought, a Snake That used to sting my life to pain, I strove to cast it far away, But every night and every day It crawled back to my heart again; It was in vain to live or strive, To think or sleep, to work or pray; At last I bade this thing accursed Gnaw at my heart, and do its worst, And so I let it have its way. Thus said I, "I shall never fall Into a false and dreaming peace, And then awake, with sudden start, To feel it biting at my heart, For now the pain can never cease." But I gained more; for I have found That such a snake's envenomed charm Must always, always find a part, Deep in the centre of my heart, Which it can never wound or harm. It is coiled round my heart to-day. It sleeps at times, this cruel snake, And while it sleeps it never stings: -- Hush! let us talk of other things, Lest it should hear me and awake. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRANES OF IBYCUS by EMMA LAZARUS THE WIFE A-LOST by WILLIAM BARNES SONNET by MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI SA-CA-GA-WE-A; THE INDIAN GIRL WHO GUIDED LEWIS AND CLARK by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR THE SONG OF THE ILL-BELOVED; TO PAUL LEAUTARD by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE A BLACKBIRD SUDDENLY by JOSEPH AUSLANDER |