Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A BALLAD OF INCAPACITY, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Silence is golden,' saith the saw Last Line: The man who cannot speak! Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin | ||||||||
'My Lord, I cannot speak.' -- MACLEAN THE HIGHWAYMAN (on his trial). 'SILENCE is golden,' saith the saw, And rightly is extolled; For Speech, too oft, outrides the law By waxing overbold: Yet he, I think (of mortal mould!), Most needs the aid of 'cheek,' -- The man who can no tale unfold, -- The man who cannot speak! He listens with a kind of awe, And hears around him rolled The long, reverberate guffaw That greets the quicker-souled; He hears the jest, or new or old, And mutely eats his 'leek,' -- Is classed as either dull or cold, -- The man who cannot speak! He may have 'Latin in his mawe,' He may keep down controlled Potentialities of 'jaw' Unmatched by any scold; He may have thoughts of sterling gold For each day in the week; But he must all these things withhold, -- The man who cannot speak. ENVOY. FRIENDS, 'tis of me the fable's told; Your sufferance I seek; In me that shameless sight behold, -- The man who cannot speak! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON BEFORE SEDAN by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON GROWING GRAY by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; IN MEMORIAM by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON IN AFTER DAYS; RONDEAU by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON WHEN THERE IS PEACE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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