Dear Thomas, didst thou never pop Thy head into a tin-man's shop? 3There, Thomas, didst thou never see ('Tis but by way of simile) A squirrel spend his little rage In jumping round a rolling cage? The cage, as either side turn'd up, Striking a ring of bells a-top?-- Mov'd in the orb, pleas'd with the chimes, The foolish creature thinks he climbs: But here or there, turn wood or wire, He never gets two inches higher. So fares it with those merry blades, That frisk it under Pindus' shades. In noble songs, and lofty odes, They tread on stars, and talk with gods; Still dancing in an airy round, Still pleas'd with their own verses' sound; Brought back, how fast soe'er they go, Always aspiring, always low | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE TWO MYSTERIES by MARY ELIZABETH MAPES DODGE FABLE: THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE BARD'S ANNUAL DEFIANCE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS QUATRAIN: HERRICK by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THALIA by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH BEVERLY SHORE IN WINTER by THOMAS GOLD APPLETON BIRTHDAY LINES TO AGNES BAILLIE by JOANNA BAILLIE THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WALNUT-TREE OF BOARSTELL: ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BASSE |