To stab my youth with desperate knives, to wear
This paltry age's gaudy livery,
To let each base hand filch my treasury,
To mesh my soul within a woman's hair,
And be mere Fortune's lackeyed groom, - I swear
I love it not! these things are less to me
Than the thin foam that frets upon the sea,
Less than the thistledown of summer air
Which hath no seed: better to stand aloof
Far from these slanderous fools who mock my life
Knowing me not, better the lowliest roof
Fit for the meanest hind to sojourn in,
Than to go back to that hoarse cave of strife
Where my white soul first kissed the mouth of sin.
Back to Oscar Wilde
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Comments2I remember reading this poem when I was younger, and I have to say, it really captures the feeling of disillusionment and a longing for escape. It speaks to the desire to break free from the chains of societal expectations and the judgments of others, to find a simpler, purer life away from the noise and chaos of the world. It's amazing how poetry can express feelings that often feel so personal and hard to articulate. I can definitely see why this piece resonates with so many readers.
this is such a raw and melancholic piece. You can really feel the artist's disillusionment, his struggle against societal norms and constraints. It's incredibly visual and emotive. It's like he's suggesting that sometimes the most mundane life is better than one lived under pretenses and pressures. A truly resonating piece!