Representative Poetry Online
  Poet Index Poem Index Random Search
  Introduction Timeline Calendar Glossary Criticism Bibliography
  RPO Canadian Poetry UTEL
by Name
by Date
by Title
by First Line
by Last Line
Poet
Poem
Short poem
Keyword
Concordance

Arthur Christopher Benson (1862-1925)

Courage


              1I have been brave in my way,
              2    Though men did not call me brave;
              3They deem that I creep away,
              4    If ever a pennon wave
              5Over the flashing fray.

              6Yet I have lain through the night
              7    Shuddering, open-eyed,
              8Straining my aching sight
              9    To see what leant at my side,
            10Angel or sullen sprite.

            11Then in the haggard day, --
            12    Cruel and cold it shone, --
            13Sighing in sad dismay,
            14    I bind my armour on;
            15I have been brave, I say.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Arthur Christopher Benson, The Professor and Other Poems (London: John Lane the Bodley Head, 1900): 58-59. PR 4099 B5P7 Robarts Library
First publication date: 1900
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2001
Recent editing: 1:2002/10/5

Rhyme: ababa

Other poems by Arthur Christopher Benson

Your comments and questions are welcomed.
All contents copyright © Ian Lancashire (Department of English) and the University of Toronto
RPO is hosted by the University of Toronto Libraries.