Poem A Day

Classic poem

Fragment: 'I Would Not Be a King'

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I would not be a king--enough

Of woe it is to love;

The path to power is steep and rough,

And tempests reign above.

I would not climb the imperial throne;

'Tis built on ice which fortune's sun

Thaws in the height of noon.

Then farewell, king, yet were I one,

Care would not come so soon.

Would he and I were far away

Keeping flocks on Himalay!

naturelovegriefchoice
Public domain/Source

About this poem

First line
I would not be a king--enough
Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Themes
nature, love, grief, choice

Poem A Day

Save this poem in the app.

Favorite it in the app and get tomorrow's classic poem.