Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MUD-FISH, BY AN INDIGNANT TORY FOOTMAN, by CHARLES WILLIAM SHIRLEY BROOKS


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THE MUD-FISH, BY AN INDIGNANT TORY FOOTMAN, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: In sir joseph's marble dishes
Last Line: Keep the mud-fish in their places.
Alternate Author Name(s): Brooks, Shirley
Subject(s): Fish & Fishing; Anglers


'The Mud-fish at the Crystal Palace escaped from his tank, and could not be
found. The other day he was discovered in the marble canal, under a fountain,
where he had been amusing himself by eating the gold-fish, and doubling his
size.'

In Sir Joseph's marble dishes
Cuts about them golden Fishes,
All their life in splendour passes,
Them's you see, Us Hupper Classes.

From his tank, while folks is sleeping,
Comes the nasty Mud-fish leaping,
With no end of spite to-ward us,
That's, you see, the Lower Horders.

Up and down our basin scouring,
All his betters he's devouring,
Gorging till he gets enormous,
Just as would them low Reformers.

Moral struck me when I seed 'em:
Don't give low folks too much freedom:
Gold fish lives on this here basis,
Keep the Mud-fish in their places.





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