WHO is now reading this? May-be one is now reading this who knows some wrong-doing of my past life, Or may-be a stranger is reading this who has secretly loved me, Or may-be one who meets all my grand assumptions and egotisms with derision, Or may-be one who is puzzled at me. As if I were not puzzled at myself! Or as if I never deride myself! (O conscience-struck! O self-convicted!) Or as if I do not secretly love strangers! (O tenderly, a long time, and never avow it;) Or as if I did not see, perfectly well, interior in myself, the stuff of wrong-doing, Or as if it could cease transpiring from me until it must cease. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY IN MEMORIAM: W.G. WARD by ALFRED TENNYSON EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 5. BY LITTLE AND LITTLE by PHILIP AYRES BRUCE: JAMES OF DOUGLAS by JOHN BARBOUR THE CHILD AN' THE MOWERS by WILLIAM BARNES PSALM 35. JUDICA DOMINE by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |