Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MY CHEEK BURNED, by EMILY JANE BRONTE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MY CHEEK BURNED, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Ellis
Subject(s): Youth; Tolerance; Bad Behavior


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.






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