See those cherries, how they cover Yonder sunny garden wall: Had they not that network over, Thieving birds would eat them all. So, to guard our posts and pensions, Ancient sages wove a net, Through whose holes, of small dimensions, Only certain knaves can get. Shall we then this network widen? Shall we stretch these sacred holes, Through which, even already, slide in Lots of small dissenting souls? "God forbid!' old Testy crieth; "God forbid!' so echo I; Every ravenous bird that flieth Then would ar our cherries fly. Ope but half an inch or so, And, behold, what bevies break in; Here, some cursed old Popish crow Pops his long and lickerish beak in; Here, sly Arians flock unnumbered, And Socinians, slim and spare, Who, with small belief encumbered, Slip in easy any where; Methodists, of birds the aptest, Where there's pecking going on; And that water-fowl, the Baptist -- All would share our fruits anon; Ev'ry bird, of ev'ry city, That, for years, with ceaseless din, Hath reversed the starling's ditty, Singing out "I can't get in.' "God forbid!' old Testy snivels; "God forbid!' I echo too; Rather may ten thousand devils Seize the whole voracious crew! If less costly fruit won't suit 'em, Hips and haws, and such like berries, Curse the corm'rants! stone 'em, shoot 'em, Any thing -- to save our cherries. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BY THE ALMA RIVER by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK AT CASTERBRIDGE FAIR: 2. FORMER BEAUTIES by THOMAS HARDY METAMORPHOSES: BOOK 8. BAUCIS AND PHILEMON by PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO WHEN HELEN LIVED by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS AIR: 'CAPTAIN JINKS' by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS MIDNIGHT THOUGHTS by LUCY AIKEN |