IN a great Court, near a fam'd River's side, With hopes of greatness fed, I still reside; But where to fix I ne'er shall understand, Foll'wing what flies, and shunning what's at hand. Others from me the gifts of Heav'n retain, The lucky fool does still the purchase gain; At air I grasp, and after shadows strive, Live for my foes, if this be said to live. I slight myself, love him that injures me, And in soft words find greatest treachery; I mortal hatred under smiles behold, And starve for want, amidst great heaps of gold. Now Envy's strokes, then Fortune's I sustain, And want a friend to whom I might complain; I see th' ensuing storm, and no help nigh, Grieve for one loss, and straight another spy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MISSING THE BO IN THE HENHOUSE by HAYDEN CARRUTH SONG: SO OFTEN, SO LONG I HAVE THOUGHT by HAYDEN CARRUTH TO HENRY LINCOLN JOHNSON - LAWYER by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO MAY HOWARD JACKSON - SCULPTOR by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SURFACES AND MASKS; 6 by CLARENCE MAJOR DON JUAN'S SONG by ISAAC ROSENBERG IN THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM by SARA TEASDALE |