The Mind
Alas! this is not what I thought life was
From Poems of 1820
The Mind
Alas! this is not what I thought life was.
I knew that there were crimes and evil men,
Misery and hate; nor did I hope to pass
Untouched by suffering, through the rugged glen.
In mine own heart I saw as in a glass
The hearts of others ... And when
I went among my kind, with triple brass
Of calm endurance my weak breast I armed,
To bear scorn, fear, and hate, a woful mass!
Cite this poem
MLA
Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “Alas! this is not what I thought life was.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shelley/88/.
Chicago
Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “Alas! this is not what I thought life was.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shelley/88/.
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