I HAD ambition once. Like Solomon I asked for wisdom, deeming wisdom fair, And with much pains a little knowledge won Of Nature's cruelty and Man's despair, And mostly learned how vain such learnings were. Then in my grief I turned to happiness, And woman's love awhile was all my care, And I achieved some sorrow and some bliss, Till love rebelled. Then the mad lust of power Became my dream, to rule my fellow-men; And I too lorded it my little hour, And wrought for weal or woe with sword and pen, And wounded many, some, alas, my friends. Now I ask silence. My ambition ends. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS by THOMAS HOOD FESTOONS OF FISHES by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG THE MODERN MOTHER by ALICE MEYNELL THE ELF CHILD by GEORGE LAWRENCE ANDREWS THE OLD FERRYMAN by ANTIPHILUS OF BYZANTIUM |