Ah Poverties, Wincings, and Sulky Retreats

AH POVERTIES, WINCINGS, AND SULKY RETREATS.

AH poverties, wincings, and sulky retreats! Ah you foes that in conflict have overcome me! (For what is my life, or any man's life, but a conflict with
foes—the old, the incessant war?) You degradations—you tussle with passions and appetites; You smarts from dissatisfied friendships, (ah wounds, the
sharpest of all;) You toil of painful and choked articulations—you mean-
nesses; You shallow tongue-talks at tables, (my tongue the shal-
lowest of any;) You broken resolutions, you racking angers, you smother'd
ennuis; Ah, think not you finally triumph—My real self has yet to
come forth; It shall yet march forth o'ermastering, till all lies beneath me; It shall yet stand up the soldier of unquestion'd victory.