I WON a noble fame; But, with a sudden frown, The people snatched my crown, And, in the mire, trod down My lofty name. I bore a bounteous purse; And beggars by the way Then blessed me, day by day; But I, grown poor as they, Have now their curse. I gained what men call friends; But now their love is hate, And I have learned, too late, How mated minds unmate, And friendship ends. I clasped a woman's breast, -- As if her heart, I knew, Or fancied, would be true, -- Who proved, alas! she too! False like the rest. I now am all bereft, -- As when some tower doth fall, With battlement, and wall, And gate, and bridge, and all, -- And nothing left. But I account it worth All pangs of fair hopes crossed -- All loves and honors lost, -- To gain the heavens, at cost Of losing earth. So, lest I be inclined To render ill for ill, -- Henceforth in me instil, O God, a sweet good-will To all mankind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREAKING POINT by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET EXTRACTS FROM VERSES WRITTEN FOR THE NEW YEAR, 1823 by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD TAKE YOUR CHOICE: OR HERE'S GRANTLAND RICE'S METHOD by BERTON BRALEY EARTH by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT EPOGRAM; LINES WRITTEN ON A WINDOW AT THE KING'S ARMS, DUMFRIES by ROBERT BURNS FULL CYCLE by JOHN WHITE CHADWICK RELIGIOUS MUSINGS; A DESULTORY POEM, WRITTEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |