Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG: 6, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Most wretched heart, most miserable
Last Line: Since unhap cannot kill me so.
Alternate Author Name(s): Wyat, Thomas
Subject(s): Fear; Hearts; Hope; Quarrels; Truth; Optimism; Arguments; Disagreements


Most wretched heart, most miserable,
Since the comfort is from thee fled,
Since all the truth is turned to fable,
Most wretched heart why art thou not dead?

No, no, I live and must do still,
Whereof I thank God and no moe;
For I myself have all my will,
And he is wretched that weens him so.

But yet thou hast both had and lost
The hope so long that hath thee fed,
And all thy travail and thy cost:
Most wretched heart why art thou not dead?

Some other hope must feed me new;
If I have lost, I say what though?
Despair shall not through it ensue,
For he is wretched that weens him so.

The sun, the moon doth frown on thee;
Thou hast darkness in daylight's stead,
As good in grave as so to be;
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead?

Some pleasant star may show me light,
But though the heaven would work me woe,
Who hath himself shall stand up right,
And he is wretched that weens him so.

Hath he himself that is not sure?
His trust is like as he hath sped;
Against the stream thou mayst not dure:
Most wretched heart why art thou not dead?

The last is worst, who fears not that?
He hath himself where so he go;
And he that knoweth what is what
Sayeth he is wretched that weens him so.

Seest thou not how they whet their teeth,
Which to touch thee sometime did dread?
They find comfort for thy mischief:
Most wretched heart why art thou not dead?

What though that curs do fall by kind
On him that hath the overthrow?
All that cannot oppress my mind,
For he is wretched that weens him so.

Yet can it not be then denied;
It is as certain as thy creed;
Thy great unhap thou canst not hide:
Unhappy then why art thou not dead?

Unhappy, but no wretch therefore,
For hap doth come again and go;
For which I keep myself in store,
Since unhap cannot kill me so.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net