Ambition

Wilfrid Scawen Blunt 1840 (Petworth House) – 1922 (United Kingdom)



I had ambition once. Like Solomon
I asked for wisdom, deeming wisdom fair,
And with much pains a little knowledge won
Of Nature's cruelty and Man's despair,
And mostly learned how vain such learnings were.
Then in my grief I turned to happiness,
And woman's love awhile was all my care,
And I achieved some sorrow and some bliss,
Till love rebelled. Then the mad lust of power
Became my dream, to rule my fellow--men;
And I too lorded it my little hour,
And wrought for weal or woe with sword and pen,
And wounded many, some, alas, my friends.
Now I ask silence. My ambition ends.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 14, 2023

33 sec read
108

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDBECFCFGG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 575
Words 109
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Wilfrid Scawen Blunt

Wilfrid Scawen Blunt was an English poet and writer. more…

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