There was a time when my cheek burned āàTo give such scornful words the lie, Ungoverned nature madly spurned āàThe law that bade it not defy. Oh, in the days of ardent youth I would have given my life for truth. For truth, for right, for liberty, āàI would have gladly, freely died; And now I calmly bear and see āàThe vain man smile, the fool deride, Though not because my heart is tame, Though not for fear, though not for shame. My soul still chokes at every tone āàOf selfish and self-clouded error; My breast still braves the world alone, āàSteeled as it ever was to terror. Only I know, howe'er I frown, The same world will go rolling on. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LITTLE DANCERS by LAURENCE BINYON FROM THE DARK TOWER by COUNTEE CULLEN THE SUN GOD by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE FIRST DAY: THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY THE BABYLONIAN HORDES by ISAAC ROSENBERG SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 14. 'I LOVE THEE' by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) IN VINCULIS; SONNETS WRITTEN IN AN IRISH PRISON: A DREAM OF GOOD by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |