Alas! This Is Not What I Thought Life Was Poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Alas! This Is Not What I Thought Life Was

Rating: 3.1


Alas! this is not what I thought life was.
I knew that there were crimes and evil men,
Misery and hate; nor did I hope to pass
Untouched by suffering, through the rugged glen.
In mine own heart I saw as in a glass
The hearts of others ... And when
I went among my kind, with triple brass
Of calm endurance my weak breast I armed,
To bear scorn, fear, and hate, a woful mass!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
M Asim Nehal 20 January 2019

And life has full packs of surprises. A nice poem,10

5 0 Reply
T Rajan Evol 20 January 2019

Life is filled with drama, action, comedy, tragedy and what not.

2 1 Reply
Akhtar Jawad 22 May 2014

Of calm endurance my weak breast I armed, To bear scorn, fear, and hate, a woful mass! Beauty, beauty and beauty.

3 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 16 June 2019

An introspective soliloquy about life and expectations from it and disillusionment.

2 0 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 15 September 2020

this is not what I thought life was. I knew that there were crimes and evil men, Misery and hate; nor did I hope to pass Untouched by suffering, A woful mass. a fine poem. tony

1 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 28 October 2023

Can this be combined with the fact that he is an atheist?

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 28 October 2023

Excellent poem, but a depressing summary, a sad poem and so much suffering in his young life, barely 30 years old (deceased) and such a difficult life. Can this be combined with the fact that he is an atheist? We must not prejudice him.

0 0 Reply
David Wood 24 December 2022

You cannot fight hate with hate. The only way to fight hate us with love. That's the problem with this hate filled world.

0 0 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 15 September 2020

'nor did I hope to pass Untouched by suffering' - a realistic approach towards understanding life. Loved it!

1 0 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 15 September 2020

Alas! this is not what I thought life was! ! ! - started this poem with a pessimistic voice! whatever, it's beautiful poem; life is life and the living existence for this world is needful cause of its expeditious presence; this world and life is not harmful to anyone but we, the people when use our brain in the obnoxious ways then this world becomes dangerous to live and this life gives bitter experiences! ! !

2 0 Reply
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