THROUGH great Earl Norman's acres wide, A prosperous and a good land, 'T will take you fifty miles to ride O'er grass, and corn, and woodland. His age is sixty-nine, or near, And I'm scarce twenty-two, man, And have but fifty pounds a year, -- Poor John Truman! But would I change? I' faith! not I, Oh no! not I, says Truman! Earl Norman dwells in halls of state, The grandest in the county; Has forty cousins at his gate, To feed upon his bounty. But then he's deaf -- the doctors' care, While I in whispers woo, man, And find my physic in the air, -- Stout John Truman! D'ye think I'd change for thrice his gold? Oh no! not I, says Truman! Earl Norman boasts a gartered knee, A proof of royal graces; I wear, by Nelly wrought for me, A silken pair of braces. He sports a star upon his breast, And I a violet blue, man, -- The gift of her who loves me best, Proud John Truman! I'd be myself, and not the Earl, Oh, that would I, says Truman. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN THE GARDEN AT THE DAWN HOUR by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONG OF THE BANNER AT DAY-BREAK by WALT WHITMAN EPISTLES ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF WOMEN: 2 by LUCY AIKEN AUTHOR TO HIS CHILD by FRANCES AIRTH NOCTURNE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 29. ALL NOT WORTH A REWARD by PHILIP AYRES FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: DIRGE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |