Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LAST WORD, by MATTHEW ARNOLD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LAST WORD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Creep into thy narrow bed
Last Line: Find thy body by the wall.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets


CREEP into thy narrow bed,
Creep, and let no more be said!
Vain thy onset! all stands fast;
Thou thyself must break at last.

Let the long contention cease!
Geese are swans, and swans are geese.
Let them have it how they will!
Thou art tired; best be still!

They out-talk'd thee, hiss'd thee, tore thee.
Better men fared thus before thee;
Fired their ringing shot and pass'd,
Hotly charged--and broke at last.

Charge once more, then, and be dumb!
Let the victors, when they come,
When the forts of folly fall,
Find thy body by the wall.





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