The poem explores the theme of a person's inner struggle between good and evil. It describes a moment of crisis when one's conscience awakens, prompting a choice between right and wrong. The speaker is torn between their higher self and their lower, more selfish nature. The poem suggests that this internal conflict occurs at "high noon," a symbol for a moment of clarity and truth.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Inspirational