Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, O GOD! O MONTREAL!, by SAMUEL BUTLER (1835-1902)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

O GOD! O MONTREAL!, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Stowed away in a montreal lumber room
Last Line: O god! O montreal
Variant Title(s): A Psalm Of Montreal
Subject(s): Montreal, Canada


Stowed away in a Montreal lumber room
The Discobolus standeth and turneth his face to the wall;
Dusty, cobweb-covered, maimed and set at naught,
Beauty lieth in an attic and no man regardeth:
O God! O Montreal!
Beautiful by night and day, beautiful in summer and winter,
Whole or maimed, always and alike beautiful --
He preacheth gospel of grace to the skins of owls
And to one who seasoneth the skins of Canadian owls;
O God! O Montreal!
When I saw him I was wroth and I said, "O Discobolus!
Beautiful Discobolus, a Prince both among Gods and men,
What doest thou here, how camest thou hither, Discobolus,
Preaching gospel in vain to the skins of owls?'
O God! O Montreal!
And I turned to the man of skins and said unto him, "O thou man of skins,
Wherefore hast thou done thus to shame the beauty of the Discobolus?'
But the Lord had hardened the heart of the man of skins,
And he answered, "My brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgeon.'
O God! O Montreal!
"The Discobolus is put here because he is vulgar,
He has neither vest nor pants with which to cover his limbs;
I, Sir, am a person of most respectable connections --
My brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgeon.'
O God! O Montreal!
Then I said, "O brother-in-law to Mr. Spurgeon's haberdasher,
Who seasonest also the skins of Canadian owls,
Thou callest trousers "pants", whereas I call them "trousers",
Therefore, thou art in hell-fire and may the Lord pity thee!'
O God! O Montreal!
"Preferrest thou the gospel of Montreal to the gospel of Hellas,
The gospel of thy connection with Mr. Spurgeon's haberdashery to the gospel of
Yet none the less blasphemed he beauty saying, "The Discobolus hath no gospel,
But my brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgeon.
O God! O Montreal






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