Exceeding tall, but built so well his height Half-disappears in flow of chest and limb; Moustache and whisker trooper-like in trim; Frank-faced, frank-eyed, frank-hearted; always bright And always punctual -- morning, noon, and night; Bland as a Jesuit, sober as a hymn; Humorous, and yet without a trace of whim; Gentle and amiable, yet full of fight. His piety, though fresh and true in strain, Has not yet whitewashed up his common mood To the dead blank of his particular Schism. Sweet, unaggressive, tolerant, most humane, Wild artists like his kindly elderhood, And cultivate his mild Philistinism. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MONODY ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM MARION REEDY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A SERMON AT CLEVEDON; GOOD FRIDAY by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN THE FOREFATHER by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON THE PLAINT OF THE CAMEL by CHARLES EDWARD CARRYL HEAVEN-HAVEN; A NUN TAKES THE VEIL by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS LITTLE GIFFEN by FRANCIS ORRERY TICKNOR |