A COUNTRY parson took a notion Into his head, one Whitsuntide, That it was more like true devotion To preach extempore; -- he tried: Succeeded once -- twice -- thrice -- but, lo! His fourth discourse was not forthcoming; Spite of his hawing and his humming, Not a word further could he go; So that the worthy man perforce Was fain to leave them in the lurch, And say, that, since he came to church, He'd lost the thread of his discourse. Whereat a man below exclaimed, "Lock the doors, beadle! search us round, All, every one, until it's found; The thief should really be ashamed. -- Here are @3my@1 pockets -- ransack both! @3I@1 have it not, I'll take my oath." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: LOVERIDGE CHASE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS LOVE IN AUTUMN by SARA TEASDALE TO MY CHILDREN: 3 by DOLLIE CAROLINE MAITLAND RADFORD SAPPHO AND PHAON: 2. THE TEMPLE OF CHASTITY by MARY DARBY ROBINSON TO MYRTILLA OF NEW YORK by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE FINEST DAY OF ONE'S LIFE by JACQUES BARON THE STATION MAN, ON LOOK-OUT by ARCHIE BINNS EAST SIDE MOVING PICTURE THEATRE - SUNDAY by MAXWELL BODENHEIM |