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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WISH, by JAMES MERRICK First Line: How short is life's uncertain space Last Line: "and yet above contempt!" Subject(s): Contentment; Life; Mediocrity | |||
"How short is life's uncertain space! Alas! how quickly done! How swift the wild precarious chase! And yet how difficult the race! How very hard to run! Since then false joys our fancy cheat With hopes of real bliss, Ye guardian powers that rule my fate, The only wish that I create Is all comprised in this: May I through life's uncertain tide Be still from pain exempt; May all my wants be still supplied, My state too low t'admit of pride, And yet above contempt!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY ORCHA'D IN LINDEN LEA by WILLIAM BARNES ODE TO FEAR by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) THE LOST JEWEL by EMILY DICKINSON THE TABLES TURNED by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH WHEN HE EMERGED by MARGARET AHO A SNOWFLAKE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH VERSES TO A YOUNG FRIEND by BERNARD BARTON |
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