THE man on whom virtue smiles is blest, He is lost who neglects her instructions; Poor youth that I am, I am ruin'd By evil companions' seductions. For cards and dice soon dispossess'd My pockets of all their money; At first the maidens consoled me With smiles as luscious as honey. But when they had fuddled with wine their guest, And torn my garments, straightway (Poor youth that I am) they seized me, And bundled me out at the gateway. On waking after a bad night's rest, -- Sad end to all my ambition! -- Poor youth that I am, I was filling At Cassel a sentry's position. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WORD OF AN ENGINEER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON WALT WHITMAN by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE GREEK AT CONSTANTINOPLE by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES A CAMEO by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE IL PLEUT DOUCEMENT SUR LA VILLE by PAUL VERLAINE MOTHER'S WORLD by MARGARET H. ALDEN |