Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WISH, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WISH, by                 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.





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