Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BLATHERSKITE, by LEVI BISHOP Poet's Biography First Line: A burden rests upon the mind Last Line: May write himself a blatherskite. Subject(s): Muses; Peace | ||||||||
A burden rests upon the mind, Of which the wise and good may write; The mighty subject is to find, And clear unfold to dull and blind The proper sense of blatherskite. To start with beasts: The surly dog, That growls and snaps as if to bite; The stubborn ox upon the bog; The nag that holds the tedious jog; May each be termed a blatherskite. The girl and boy that idly shun, Where truth and culture free invite; A wicked race have thus begun; Will soon a race of sorrow run; Will soon become the blatherskite. The crafty beggar that by stealth, His tale of want can grim recite; And pity claim; and yet has wealth In ample store; and strength and health; Expose the cheat -- the blatherskite. The miser, with a heart of ice, Whose very smile is chilling blight; Whose coffers are his paradise; Who blooms in every sordid vice; Oh, blast the blasted blatherskite! The would-be critic; ever wise In self conceit, yet seldom right; A lump of venom in disguise; A chronic grumbler; ah despise And kick the sneaking blatherskite. Who social circle ape to lead, Without the solid requisite; Where high pretension is the creed, And every look betrays the breed; Avaunt, ye vulgar blatherskite. Behold the swelling parvenu, The uninvited parasite; Who tawdry flaunts in public view; To baser instincts ever true; In every place a blatherskite. The ever happy, smiling home -- A theme we know is always trite; Who mar it; or neglectful roam; Its present peace and that to come Destroy; Oh, brand the blatherskite. Shall we a stanza, brief, essay, Of theme that shuns the ear polite? Let wild suggestion freely play? No; no; the fashions of the day, Court other name than blatherskite. Ye who, with eye and ear intent, Behold us here so gaily dight; The real scamp to represent; Ye soon may guess the skitey meant, And silent name the blatherskite. A dozen rhymes we thus have made, And some perhaps the muse will fright; Have run a word in every shade; Who likes it not, the renegade, May write himself a blatherskite. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOW MANY NIGHTS by GALWAY KINNELL THE MOTTO by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE TRUE BEATITUDE by RUPERT BROOKE MAKING PEACE by DENISE LEVERTOV TWO SONGS OF PEACE: 1 by YEHUDA AMICHAI TWO SONGS OF PEACE: 2 by YEHUDA AMICHAI A HOP AT SARATOGA by LEVI BISHOP |
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