Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PROVERBS, by JAMES SMITH (1775-1839) Poet's Biography First Line: My good aunt bridget, spite of age Last Line: "whose motto's ""ne quid nimis." Subject(s): Faith; Proverbs; Wisdom; Belief; Creed; Maxims; Adages | ||||||||
MY good Aunt Bridget, spite of age, Versed in Valerian, Dock, and Sage, Well knew the virtues of herbs; But Proverbs gain'd her chief applause, "Child," she exclaim'd, "respect old saws, And pin your faith on Proverbs." Thus taught, I dubb'd my lot secure; And, playing long-rope, "slow and sure," Conceived my movement clever. When lo! an urchin by my side Push'd me head foremost in, and cried "Keep Moving," "Now or Never." At Melton next I join'd the hunt, Of bogs and bushes bore the brunt. Nor once my courser held in; But when I saw a yawning steep, I thought of "Look before you leap," And curb'd my eager gelding. While doubtful thus I rein'd my roan, Willing to save a fractured bone, Yet fearful of exposure; A sportsman thus my spirit stirred -- "Delays are dangerous," -- I spurred My steed, and leaped the enclosure. I ogled Jane, who heard me say, That "Rome was not built in a day," When lo! Sir Fleet O'Grady Put this, my saw, to sea again, And proved, by running off with Jane, "Faint heart ne'er won fair Lady." Aware "New brooms sweep clean," I took An untaught tyro for a cook, (The tale I tell a fact is;) She spoilt my soup: but, when I chid, She thus once more my work undid, "Perfection comes from Practice." Thus, out of every adage hit, And, finding that ancestral wit As changeful as the clime is: From Proverbs, turning on my heel, I now cull Wisdom from my seal, Whose motto's "Ne quid nimis." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN ANCIENT PROVERB by WILLIAM BLAKE A DUTCH PROVERB by MATTHEW PRIOR AN OLD SAW NEWLY RENDERED by LEVI BISHOP TANKA OF THE WISE by HENRY HARRISON WAN LO TANKA by HENRY HARRISON THE PROVERBS OF HENDYNGE by HENDYNGE REJECTED ADDRESSES: THE BABY'S DEBUT, BY W. W. by JAMES SMITH (1775-1839) |
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