Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TEMPER by ANONYMOUS

First Line: WHEN I HAVE LOST MY TEMPER I HAVE LOST MY REASON TOO
Last Line: "I HAVE LEARNED BY SAD EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN MY TEMPER FLIES / I NEVER DO A WORTHY THING, A DECENT DE

When I have lost my temper I have lost my reason, too.
I'm never proud of anything which angrily I do.
When I have talked in anger and my cheeks were flaming red,
I have always uttered something which I wish I hadn't said.
In anger I have never done a kindly deed or wise,
But many things for which I felt I should apologize.
In looking back across my life, and all I've lost or made,
I can't recall a single time when fury ever paid.
So I struggle to be patient, for I've reached a wiser age;
I do not want to do a thing or speak a word in rage.
I have learned by sad experience that when my temper flies
I never do a worthy thing, a decent deed or wise.



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