THINK'ST thou to seduce me then with words that have no meaning? Parrots so can learn to prate, our speech by pieces gleaning: Nurses teach their children so about the time of weaning. Learn to speak first, then to woo: to wooing much pertaineth: He that courts us, wanting art, soon falters when he feigneth, Looks asquint on his discourse and smiles when he complaineth. Skilful anglers hide their hooks, fit baits for every season; But with crooked pins fish thou, as babes do that want reason; Gudgeons only can be caught with such poor tricks of treason. Ruth forgive me, if I erred, from human heart compassion, When I laughed sometimes too much to see thy foolish fashion: But alas! who less could do that found so good occasion! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEEP IN THE QUIET WOOD by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 35 by JAMES JOYCE ANCHORED TO THE INFINITE by EDWIN MARKHAM A CERTAIN POET ON THE DEBATES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DOMESDAY BOOK: DR. BURKE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE NEW APOCRYPHA: BUSINESS REVERSES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ELEGY: THE LAMENT OF EDWARD BLASTOCK; FOR RICHARD ROWLEY by EDITH SITWELL |