Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SELF CONTROL, by LEVI BISHOP 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...MY GOOD FATHER by CAROLYN KIZER ARCADY TOMBEAU by DONALD REVELL LIFE'S MIRROR by MARY AINGE DE VERE IDEA: TO THE READER OF THESE SONNETS, INTRODUCTION by MICHAEL DRAYTON VIRTUE [OR, VERTUE] by GEORGE HERBERT A HOP AT SARATOGA by LEVI BISHOP |
|