Oh, he kissed the lips of Ambition, For the jade was sweet and fair, Oh, he kissed the lips of Ambition With never a burdened care, For his blood was hot with yearnings To do, and to be,—and then To feast and to laugh with his earnings And buy of the power of men! Oh, the jade was as fair as Morning, Youth's kiss was returned with smile, He saw not the clouds aborning Nor searched in her eyes for guile, And he laughed, oh, he laughed, when neighbors Advised with their lips, "Beware!" For Ambition had piped to his labors, Yes, the jade was sweet and fair! Oh, he kissed the lips of Ambition; The time of his youth was spent, Then he damned the lips of Ambition For his youth's impoverishment, For the hag of wisdom bereft him, And the wealth that he earned, she flung To the four winds of Earth, and she left him, A broken down reed, unsung! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CAMPUS SONNET: TALK by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET SPRINGTIME by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO THE MEMORY OF INEZ MILHOLLAND by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO TIME by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 3. TEESTAY by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MARTHA WASHINGTON by SIDNEY LANIER PORTRAIT OF A MOTOR CAR by CARL SANDBURG ELEGY: THE LAMENT OF EDWARD BLASTOCK; FOR RICHARD ROWLEY by EDITH SITWELL |