I know that I shall meet my fate Somewhere among the clouds above; Those that I fight I do not hate, Those that I guard I do not love; My country is Kiltartan Cross, My countrymen Kiltartan's poor, No likely end could bring them loss Or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds; I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT CANDLE-LIGHTIN' TIME by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR VOLUNTARIES by RALPH WALDO EMERSON LIVE BLINDLY; SONNET by TRUMBULL STICKNEY LUCY (4) by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THEY CALL IT BUSINESS by CHARLES G. ADAMS IN UTRUMQUE PARATUS by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE WASHINGTON BICENTENNIAL by CLARA BECK |