Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LEARNING AND RICHES, by JUANA INES DE LA CRUZ



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LEARNING AND RICHES, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Why should the world be apt to censure me?
Last Line: Of golden truth a glory unsurpassed.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramirez, Juana De Asbaje Y; Cruz, Juana Ines De La; Juana Ines De La Cruz
Subject(s): Greed; Love; Vanity; Avarice; Cupidity


WHY should the world be apt to censure me?
Wherein have I offended that I sought
To grace my mind with jewels dearly bought,
Nor turned my heart to jeweled vanity?
From greed of riches I am fancy-free;
But deem no work of fancy fairly wrought
Till crowned with diamonds from the mine of thought,
That worth my wealth, not wealth my worth, may be.
I am not Beauty's votary. I know
Her conquests fall a spoil to age at last:
I find no joy in money's gaudy show;
For gold like chaff into the furnace cast
Fits but to feed Art's flame, and keep the glow
Of golden Truth a glory unsurpassed.






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