Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LETTERS I HAVE NOT SENT by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: I HAVE WRITTEN THEM, KEEN, AND SARCASTIC, AND LONG
Last Line: TO THE LETTERS I NEVER HAVE SENT.
Subject(s): LETTERS;
I have written them, keen, and sarcastic, and long,
With righteously wrathful intent,
Not a stroke undeserved nor a censure too strong;
And some, alas! some of them went!

I have written them, challenging, eager to fight,
All hot with a merited ire;
And some of them chanced to be kept overnight,
And mailed, the next day -- in the fire!

Ah, blessed the letters that happily go
On errands of kindliness bent;
But much of my peace and my fortune I owe
To the letters I never have sent.



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