Sonnet 01

Alan Seeger

Sidney, in whom the heyday of romance

Came to its precious and most perfect flower,

Whether you tourneyed with victorious lance

Or brought sweet roundelays to Stella’s bower,

I give myself some credit for the way

I have kept clean of what enslaves and lowers,

Shunned the ideals of our present day

And studied those that were esteemed in yours;

For, turning from the mob that buys Success

By sacrificing all Life’s better part,

Down the free roads of human happiness

I frolicked, poor of purse but light of heart,

And lived in strict devotion all along

To my three idols — Love and Arms and Song.