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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
POLITICAL GREATNESS, by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Nor happiness, nor majesty, nor fame Last Line: Of hopes and fears, being himself alone. Subject(s): Politics & Government | |||
Nor happiness, nor majesty, nor fame, Nor peace, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts, Shepherd those herds whom tyranny makes tame; Verse echoes not one beating of their hearts, History is but the shadow of their shame, Art veils her glass, or from the pageant starts As to oblivion their blind millions fleet, Staining that Heaven with obscene imagery Of their own likeness. What are numbers knit By force or custom? Man who man would be Must rule the empire of himself; in it Must be supreme, establishing his throne On vaquished will, quelling the anarchy Of hopes and fears, being himself alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER TENNYSON by AMBROSE BIERCE JULY IN WASHINGTON by ROBERT LOWELL FIFTY APRIL YEARS by KHALED MATTAWA FOUR POEMS ABOUT JAMAICA: 3. A HAIRPIN TURN ABOVE READING, JAMAICA by WILLIAM MATTHEWS A FOREIGN COUNTRY by JOSEPHINE MILES ARS POETICA by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA CARMEN BOMBA: POET by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA A DIRGE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY ADONAIS; AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF JOHN KEATS by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY |
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