Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VERSES WRITTEN AT BATH ON FINDING THE HEEL OF A SHOE, by WILLIAM COWPER



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VERSES WRITTEN AT BATH ON FINDING THE HEEL OF A SHOE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fortune! I thank thee: gentle goddess, thanks!
Last Line: Drags the dull load of disappointment on.


FORTUNE! I thank thee: gentle Goddess, thanks!
Not that my Muse, though bashful, shall deny
She would have thanked thee rather hadst thou cast
A treasure in her way; for neither meed
Of early breakfast, to dispel the fumes
And bowel-raking pains of emptiness,
Nor noontide feast, nor evening's cool repast,
Hopes she from this, presumptuous,--though perhaps
The cobbler, leather-carving artist, might.
Nathless she thanks thee, and accepts thy boon,
Whatever; not as erst the fabled cock,
Vain-glorious fool, unknowing what he found,
Spurned the rich gem thou gavest him. Wherefore, ah!
Why not on me that favour (worthier sure!)
Conferredst thou, Goddess? Thou art blind, thou say'st:
Enough! thy blindness shall excuse the deed.
Nor does my Muse no benefit exhale
From this thy scant indulgence;--even here,
Hints, worthy sage Philosophy, are found,
Illustrious hints, to moralize my song.
This ponderous heel of perforated hide
Compact, with pegs indented many a row,
Haply (for such its massy form bespeaks)
The weighty tread of some rude peasant clown
Upbore: on this supported oft he stretched,
With uncouth strides, along the furrowed glebe,
Flattening the stubborn clod, till cruel Time,
(What will not cruel Time?) on a wry step,
Severed the strict cohesion; when, alas!
He, who could erst with even equal pace
Pursue his destined way with symmetry
And some proportion formed, now on one side,
Curtailed and maimed, the sport of vagrant boys,
Cursing his frail supporter, treacherous prop!
With toilsome steps, and difficult, moves on.
Thus fares it oft with other than the feet
Of humble villager: the statesman thus,
Up the steep road where proud ambition leads,
Aspiring, first uninterrupted winds
His prosperous way; nor fears miscarriage foul,
While policy prevails and friends prove true:
But that support soon failing, by him left
On whom he most depended,--basely left,
Betrayed, deserted,--from his airy height
Headlong he falls, and through the rest of life
Drags the dull load of disappointment on.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net