What! Compromise with life? Not I Though bound about by endless chains, And gone astray through devious lanes Whose walls I must not, dare not, try; Though Fate has thrust my life awry, Crushed my ideals, ignored my woes, Increased my burdens when I rose -- My tears wept to an uncaring sky -- Yet, compromise? Give up? Say die? Lose faith, surrender all that's good, Cast ideals down? Let weakness sway? Let Truth depart, and Hate have way? My strong heart could not if it would -- Life, do your worst! I'll still defy! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PLAYING SOMEONE ELSE'S PIANO by KAREN SWENSON SELF-REJECTED by JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER UNGUARDED GATES by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH MAN, THE MAN-HUNTER by CARL SANDBURG LETTER TO MY SISTER by ANNE SPENCER A DESCRIPTION OF THE MORNING by JONATHAN SWIFT |