Shadrach OLeary

 O’Leary was a poet—for a while: 
He sang of many ladies frail and fair, 
The rolling glory of their golden hair, 
And emperors extinguished with a smile. 
They foiled his years with many an ancient wile,
And if they limped, O’Leary didn’t care: 
He turned them loose and had them everywhere, 
Undoing saints and senates with their guile. 

But this was not the end. A year ago 
I met him—and to meet was to admire:
Forgotten were the ladies and the lyre, 
And the small, ink-fed Eros of his dream. 
By questioning I found a man to know— 
A failure spared, a Shadrach of the Gleam.

Form: Italian Sonnet Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace