Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NOT NOW, by ALICE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The path of duty I clearly trace Last Line: "oh, not to-day: not now!" Subject(s): Duty; Failure | ||||||||
THE path of duty I clearly trace, I stand with conscience face to face, And all her pleas allow; Calling and crying the while for grace, -- "Some other time, and some other place: Oh, not to-day; not now!" I know 't is a demon boding ill, I know I have power to do if I will, And I put my hand to th' plough; I have fair, sweet seeds in my barn, and lo! When all the furrows are ready to sow, The voice says, "Oh, not now!" My peace I sell at the price of woe; In heart and in spirit I suffer so, The anguish wrings my brow; But still I linger and cry for grace, -- "Some other time, and some other place: Oh, not to-day; not now!" I talk to my stubborn heart and say, The work I must do I will do to-day; I will make to the Lord a vow: And I will not rest and I will not sleep Till the vow I have vowed I rise and keep; And the demon cries, "Not now!" And so the days and the years go by, And so I register lie upon lie, And break with Heaven my vow; For when I would boldly take my stand, This terrible demon stays my hand, -- "Oh, not to-day: not now!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEEP SORRINESS ATONEMENT SONG by GLYN MAXWELL FAILURES IN INFINITIVES by BERNADETTE MAYER ELLIPTICAL by HARRYETTE MULLEN I GO BACK TO MAY 1937 by SHARON OLDS MATER IN EXTREMIS by JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER ONE: 10 by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS A SPINSTER'S STINT by ALICE CARY |
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