I was ashamed! I dared not lift my eyes! I could not bear to look upon the skies! What I had done! sure, everybody knew! From everywhere hands pointed where I stood, And scornful eyes were piercing through and through The moody armour of my hardihood! I heard their voices too, each word an asp That buzz'd and stung me sudden as a flame! And all the world was jolting on my name! And now and then there came a wicked rasp Of laughter, jarring me to deeper shame! And then I looked, and there was no one nigh! No eyes that stabbed like swords or glinted sly! No laughter creaking on the silent air! -- And then I saw that I was all alone Facing my soul! And next I was aware That this mad mockery was all my own! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SELF-SEEKER by ROBERT FROST THE LITTLE VAGABOND, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE NICHOLAS NYE by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE A BALLAD OF TREES AND THE MASTER by SIDNEY LANIER MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES by MATHILDE BLIND |