THE elements, that do man's house compose, Are all his chiefest foes; Fire, air, earth, water, all are at debate, Which shall predominate. Sometimes the tyrant Fire in fevers raves, And brings us to our graves; Sometimes the Air in whirling of our brains, And windy colics, reigns; Now Earth with melancholy man invades, Making us walking shades; Now Water in salt rheums works our decay, And dropsies quench our day. But this war equal was in him; the fight, Harmony and delight, Till treacherous Thames, taking the water's part, Surpris'd his open heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLACK REGIMENT by GEORGE HENRY BOKER PEREGRINUS by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE VARIATIONS ON A THEME by ALFRED GOLDSWORTHY BAILEY THE LITTLE OLD WOMEN; TO VICTOR HUGO by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE THE VIVANDIERE ('70) by WILLIAM ROSE BENET TO IRON-FOUNDERS AND OTHERS by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |