The Pride That Comes After
The Pride That Comes After - meaning Summary
Pride as Resilient Defiance
Henry Lawson’s poem depicts a speaker who rejects the world’s moralizing about "pride before a fall" and instead claims a stubborn, surviving pride after betrayal and shame. The speaker refuses consolation or pursuit until trust is proven, celebrates a temporary "sinner’s pride," and vows to value pride as protection against abandonment and public judgment. The tone is defiant, defensive, and weary of hypocritical critics.
Read Complete AnalysesIt knows it all, it knows it all, The world of groans and laughter, It sneers of pride before a fall, But the bitter pride comes after: So leave me and I’ll seek you not, So seek me and you’ll find me But till I know your hand-grip’s true I’ll stand with hands behind me. It knows it all, it knows it all, The world of lies and sorrow It prates of pride before a fall, And of the humble morrow; But shame and blame are but a name, Oh, heart that’s hurt past curing! We’ll drink to-night the sinner’s pride, The pride that’s most enduring. They know it all, they know it all, The curs that pass the sentence. They preach of pride before a fall And bitter black repentance: So leave me when my star is set, I’ll glory that you leave me, While one has pride to love me yet There’s nought on earth shall grieve me.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.