Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A SONG, by JOHN BYROM Poet's Biography First Line: Why, prithee now, what does it signify Last Line: To be cheerful and thankful for all. Subject(s): Praise; Virtue; Wisdom | ||||||||
WHY, prithee now, what does it signify For to bustle and make such a rout? It is virtue alone that can dignify, Whether clothed in ermine or clout. Come, come, and maintain thy discretion; Let it act a more generous part; For I find by thy honest confession, That the world has too much of thy heart. Beware that its fatal ascendancy Do not tempt thee to mope and repine; With a humble and hopeful dependency Still await the good pleasure divine. Success in a higher beatitude Is the end of what's under the pole; A philosopher takes it with gratitude, And believes it is best on the whole. The world is a scene, thou art sensible, Upon which, if we do but our best, On a wisdom that's incomprehensible We may safely rely for the rest. Then trust to its kind distribution, And however things happen to fall, Prithee, pluck up a good resolution To be cheerful and thankful for all. | Other Poems of Interest...WISE MEN IN THEIR BAD HOURS by ROBINSON JEFFERS HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 5 by CONRAD AIKEN SONG: NOW THAT SHE IS HERE; FOR JOE-ANNE by HAYDEN CARRUTH WISE: HAVING THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND ADOPT THE BEST by LUCILLE CLIFTON WISDOM COMETH WITH THE YEARS by COUNTEE CULLEN FOR RANDALL JARRELL, 1914-1965 by NORMAN DUBIE THE MORTAL WORDS OF ZWEIK by PHILIP LEVINE |
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