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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WISH, by ABRAHAM COWLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Well then; I now do plainly see Last Line: And so make a city here. Subject(s): Happiness; Solitude; Wishes; Joy; Delight; Loneliness | |||
WELL then; I now do plainly see This busy world and I shall ne'er agree. The very honey of all earthly joy Does, of all meats, the soonest cloy; And they, methinks, deserve my pity Who for it can endure the stings, The crowd and buzz and murmurings Of this great hive, the city! Ah yet, ere I descend to the grave, May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, and many books, both true, Both wise, and both delightful too! And since Love ne'er will from me flee,-- A Mistress moderately fair, And good as guardian angels are, Only beloved, and loving me! O founts! Oh, when in you shall I Myself eased of unpeaceful thoughts espy? O fields! O woods! when, when shall I be made The happy tenant of your shade? Here's the spring-head of Pleasure's flood! Here's wealthy Nature's treasury, Where all the riches lie that she Has coined and stamped for good. Pride and ambition here Only in far-fetched metaphors appear; Here naught but winds can hurtful murmurs scatter, And naught but echo flatter. The gods, when they descended, hither From heaven did always choose their way: And therefore we may boldly say That 'tis the way too thither. How happy here should I And one dear She live, and embracing die! She who is all the world, and can exclude In deserts solitude. I should have then this only fear: Lest men, when they my pleasures see, Should hither throng to live like me, And so make a city here. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN ABEYANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV IN A VACANT HOUSE by PHILIP LEVINE SUNDAY ALONE IN A FIFTH FLOOR APARTMENT, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS by WILLIAM MATTHEWS SILENCE LIKE COOL SAND by PAT MORA THE HONEY BEAR by EILEEN MYLES |
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