What, younger, felt
was possible, now knows
is not – but still
not chanted enough –

Walked by the sea,
unchanged in memory –
evening, as clouds
on the far-off rim

of water float,
pictures of time,
smoke, faintness –
still the dream.

I want, if older,
still to know
why, human, men
and women are

so torn, so lost,
why hopes cannot
find better world
than this.

Shelley is dead and gone,
who said,
“Taught them not this –
to know themselves;

their might could not repress
the mutiny within,
And for the morn
of truth they feigned,

deep night
Caught them ere evening . . .”

Analysis, meaning and summary of Robert Creeley's poem Myself

1 Comment

  1. paul says:

    thought provoking….pessimistic…. i would rebutt…
    Younger-possible?
    a better me than was
    is so–wrote a book…. Think!
    who knew?
    always felt special ….but why?
    no rationale….but AM!
    walked beach also,
    felt wind and oceans roar.
    enough …don’t need more
    you saw same as I
    exahaltation for me
    you passed it by
    didn’t see
    not too late
    Reincarnate.

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