With what a childish and short-sighted sense
Fear seeks for safety; recons up the days
Of danger and escape, the hours and ways
Of death; it breathless flies the pestilence;
It walls itself in towers of defence;
By land, by sea, against the storm it lays
Down barriers; then, comforted, it says:
“This spot, this hour is safe.” Oh, vain pretence!
Man born of man knows nothing when he goes;
The winds blow where they list, and will disclose
To no man which brings safety, which brings risk.
The mighty are brought low by many a thing
Too small to name. Beneath the daisy’s disk
Lies hid the pebble for the fatal sling.
(Helen Hunt Jackson)
More Poetry from Helen Hunt Jackson:
Helen Hunt Jackson Poems based on Topics: Man, Death & Dying, Name, Danger & Risk, Safety- Habeas Corpus (Helen Hunt Jackson Poems)
- Refrain (Helen Hunt Jackson Poems)
- The Fir-Tree and the Brook (Helen Hunt Jackson Poems)
- My Tenants (Helen Hunt Jackson Poems)
- Coronation (Helen Hunt Jackson Poems)
- The Poet's Forge (Helen Hunt Jackson Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Name Poems, Danger & Risk Poems, Safety PoemsBased on Keywords: comforted, pebble, disk, pestilence, sling, short-sighted, recons