Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SELF CONTROL, by LEVI BISHOP



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SELF CONTROL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A worthy triumph; one that shines afar
Last Line: Its rule assert, sublime in self-control.
Subject(s): Life; Self-control; Virtue


A worthy triumph; one that shines afar,
We oft may gain, in raging civil war
Of self with self. Is provocation sent;
Or slight affront; or word by malice lent,
Or drop't in innocence and misapplied;
A -- nothing, or to nothingness allied:
Do we sustain the hateful, random fling
At birth or rank; or bitter word, to sting
The self esteem: Is humble occupation
Reviled or slurred -- a deep, a sore vexation:
Does trivial thing annoy, however slight,
In life's great drama: suffer we a blight
In fondest hopes: Are trials lent to test
The power of self-control; and kindly, lest
We fail in virtue: Then we quickly dash
Contentment by. The eager lightnings flash.
The calm gives place to rolling thunder clouds,
And tow'ring fury, darkly, fiercely shrouds
The whole existence: Every fibre feels
The raging tempest: Reason quakes and reels
To gain the mastery. Ah! then behold,
Unruly passions in rebellion bold
Against their Lord! The sequel wait: And will
The traitors yield, or brave the contest still?

Oh yes, they yield at last,
The Ocean swell subsides;
The storm so fierce is past,
Now still the surging tides.
Many the battle sore and long,
That poor, weak man has won;
But vict'ry o'er himself, so strong,
Is virtuous life begun.

In satisfaction calm, the victor smiles:
The foe within has played his artful wiles;
And, in the wild excitement of the hour,
Has bid defiance to the ruling power.
But now the traitor and the treason yield,
And surly quit the well-contested field.
The vanquished, in the storms of future day,
May still the sway of reason fierce essay;
Yet reason may, in empire of the soul,
Its rule assert, sublime in self-control.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net