Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOSTAGES, by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY


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First Line: Aye, fortune, thou hast hostage of my best!
Last Line: To hear the coughing of a child at night.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hall, Galway
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


"He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune." -- BACON.

AYE, Fortune, thou hast hostage of my best!
I, that was once so heedless of thy frown,
Have armed thee cap-a-pie to strike me down,
Have given thee blades to hold against my breast.
My virtue, that was once all self-possessed,
Is parceled out in little hands, and brown
Bright eyes, and in a sleeping baby's gown:
To threaten these will put me to the test.

Sure, since there are these pitiful poor chinks
Upon the makeshift armor of my heart,
For thee no honor lies in such a fight!
And thou wouldst shame to vanquish one, methinks,
Who came awake with such a painful start
To hear the coughing of a child at night.





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