In the mud of the Cambrian main Did our earliest ancestors dive: From a shapeless albuminous grain We mortals our being derive. He could split himself up into five, Or roll himself round like a ball; For the fittest will always survive, While the weakliest go to the wall. As an active ascidian again Fresh forms he began to contrive, Till he grew to a fish with a brain And brought forth a mammal alive. With his rivals he next had to strive To woo him a mate and a thrall; So the handsomest managed to wive, While the ugliest went to the wall. At length as an ape he was fain The nuts of the forest to rive, Till he took to the low-lying plain, And proceeded his fellows to knive. Thus did the cannibal man first arrive One another to swallow and maul: And the strongest continued to thrive, While the weakliest went to the wall. Envoy Prince, in our civilized hive, Now money's the measure of all; And the wealthy in coaches can drive While the needier go to the wall. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: WILLIAM AND EMILY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONG OF THE ANGELS AT THE NATIVITY by NAHUM TATE IDYLLS OF THE KING: LANCELOT AND ELAINE by ALFRED TENNYSON SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 25 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 29 by THOMAS CAMPION CRUX VIA CAELORUM: 2 by PATRICK CAREY |