Song Of Myself

Sir Walter Raleigh

I was a Poet!
But I did not know it,
Neither did my Mother,
Nor my Sister nor my Brother.
The Rich were not aware of it;
The Poor took no care of it.
The Reverend Mr. Drewitt
Never knew it.
The High did not suspect it;
The Low could not detect it.
Aunt Sue
Said it was obviously untrue.
Uncle Ned
Said I was off my head:
(This from a Colonial
Was really a good testimonial.)
Still everybody seemed to think
That genius owes a good deal to drink.
So that is how
I am not a poet now,
And why
My inspiration has run dry.
It is no sort of use
To cultivate the Muse
If vulgar people
Can't tell a village pump from a church steeple.
I am merely apologizing
For the lack of the surprising
In what I write
To-night.
I am quite well-meaning,
But a lot of things are always intervening
Between
What I mean
And what it is said
I had in my head.
It is all very puzzling.
Uncle Ned
Says Poets need muzzling.
He might
Be right.
Good-night! 

Next 10 Poems

• Sir Walter Raleigh : Stans Puer Ad Mensam
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Artist
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Conclusion
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Lie
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Nymph's Reply To The Shepherd
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Passionate Man's Pilgrimage
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Silent Lover I
• Sir Walter Raleigh : The Silent Lover Ii
• Sir Walter Raleigh : To A Lady With An Unruly And Ill-mannered Dog Who Bit Several Persons Of Importance
• Sir Walter Raleigh : To His Love When He Had Obtained Her

Previous 10 Poems

• Sir Walter Raleigh : Sestina Otiosa
• Sir Walter Raleigh : Prais'd Be Diana's Fair And Harmless Light
• Sir Walter Raleigh : On Being Challenged To Write An Epigram In The Manner Of Herrick
• Sir Walter Raleigh : Now What Is Love
• Sir Walter Raleigh : Nature That Washed Her Hands In Milk
• Sir Walter Raleigh : My Last Will
• Sir Walter Raleigh : Like Truthless Dreams, So Are My Joys Expired
• Sir Walter Raleigh : Life
• Sir Walter Raleigh : His Pilgrimage
• Sir Walter Raleigh : Her Reply