The Mind

Mastery

by Sara Teasdale 1884–1933

From Love Songs

The Mind

I would not have a god come in
To shield me suddenly from sin,
And set my house of life to rights;
Nor angels with bright burning wings
Ordering my earthly thoughts and things;
Rather my own frail guttering lights
Wind blown and nearly beaten out;
Rather the terror of the nights
And long, sick groping after doubt;
Rather be lost than let my soul
Slip vaguely from my own control--
Of my own spirit let me be
In sole though feeble mastery.

MLA

Teasdale, Sara. “Mastery.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/teasdale/114/.

Chicago

Teasdale, Sara. “Mastery.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/teasdale/114/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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