Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NOT WISELY, NOR TOO WELL, by MARCUS S. C. RICKARDS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NOT WISELY, NOR TOO WELL, by                    
First Line: So thou, unmindful of the past
Last Line: Thy mission is to bless thy kind.
Subject(s): Hearts; Hope; Love; Past; Optimism


SO thou, unmindful of the Past,
Fond heart, wert wise enough to think
A woman's constancy might last
Till Fate your destinies should link!
Vain dupe! to trust the shallow vow
Of youth and inexperience.
Insane! to dream that such as thou
Wert cast for Passion born of Sense.

All pay for folly, -- thou must pay
For this unwisdom, in due shame.
Would Phoebus focus every ray
On one, of all that need his flame?
Would Luna light one pilgrim home
And leave a clouded world to grope?
What Star in you bespangled Dome
Shines solely as one wanderer's hope?

Bright Ocean woos a world-wide shore;
Soft breezes kiss no special face;
The thrust that charms thy ear will pour
His song in mine, with equal grace;
And surely never honey-bee
Held one pure rosebud his alone,
To yield her sweets at his decree
Nor even now, but when full blown.

Yet thy delusion is not vain
If thro' the evanescent thrall
Of this rash fetter, thou shalt gain
The potency of loving all.
Then back, fond fool! for ever be
One lesson graven on thy mind --
Such love is not for such as thee;
Thy mission is to bless thy kind.





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