NO, NOT I
No, not I, full-strengthened by this life,
Not shy, not flee, not dabble in the cry
Of all that golden die, not fight,
Not leap, not beg the distant sleep,
Not lie, not I -
No, not I.
No, not I will choose to weep,
Not sigh, not creep, not battle in the deep
Unsolved mystery of all that’s sweet
To me, not I - I’ll never fly
The losers’ flag -
No, not I.
No, not I will hide my head and cease,
Not tremble, shake, not cling to this small lease
Of life bequeathed to me,
I’ll never shirk my destiny,
Beg to be free -
No, not I !
4/00
This poem is all about refusing to give up.
Here's a classic poem about bloody-minded determination - Invictus by William Ernest Henley, which gave us the classic line, 'I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.'
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