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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EARL NORMAN AND JOHN TRUMAN, by CHARLES MACKAY Poet's Biography First Line: Through great earl norman's acres wide Last Line: Oh, that would I, says truman. | |||
THROUGH great Earl Norman's acres wide, A prosperous and a good land, 'T will take you fifty miles to ride O'er grass, and corn, and woodland. His age is sixty-nine, or near, And I'm scarce twenty-two, man, And have but fifty pounds a year, -- Poor John Truman! But would I change? I' faith! not I, Oh no! not I, says Truman! Earl Norman dwells in halls of state, The grandest in the county; Has forty cousins at his gate, To feed upon his bounty. But then he's deaf -- the doctors' care, While I in whispers woo, man, And find my physic in the air, -- Stout John Truman! D'ye think I'd change for thrice his gold? Oh no! not I, says Truman! Earl Norman boasts a gartered knee, A proof of royal graces; I wear, by Nelly wrought for me, A silken pair of braces. He sports a star upon his breast, And I a violet blue, man, -- The gift of her who loves me best, Proud John Truman! I'd be myself, and not the Earl, Oh, that would I, says Truman. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SMALL BEGINNINGS by CHARLES MACKAY A MAN'S HEART: THE EARL AND THE GIRL by CHARLES MACKAY AN INVOCATION TO POESY by CHARLES MACKAY CYNICAL ODE TO AN ULTRA-CYNICAL PUBLIC by CHARLES MACKAY FANNY; OR, THE BEAUTY AND THE BEE by CHARLES MACKAY |
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