Poetry Archives

Who is now reading this? 

May-be one is now reading this who knows some wrong-doing of my past life, 
Or may-be a stranger is reading this who has secretly loved me, 
Or may-be one who meets all my grand assumptions and egotisms with derision, 
Or may-be one who is puzzled at me.
 
As if I were not puzzled at myself! 
Or as if I never deride myself! (O conscience-struck! O self-convicted!) 
Or as if I do not secretly love strangers! (O tenderly, a long time, and never avow it;) 
Or as if I did not see, perfectly well, interior in myself, the stuff of wrong-doing, 
Or as if it could cease transpiring from me until it must cease.