Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LIFE IN LACONICS, by MARY ELIZABETH MAPES DODGE Poet's Biography First Line: Given a roof, and a taste for rations Last Line: "shrink away with the whisper, ""we're in the wrong place." Subject(s): Life | ||||||||
GIVEN a roof, and a taste for rations, And you have the key to the "wealth of nations." Given a boy, a tree, and a hatchet, And virtue strives in vain to match it. Given a pair, a snake, and an apple, You make the whole world need a chapel. Given "no cards," broad views, and a hovel, You have a realistic novel. Given symptoms and doctors with potion and pill, And your heirs will ere long be contesting your will. That good leads to evil there's no denying: If it were not for truth there would be no lying. "I'm nobody!" should have a hearse; But then, "I'm somebody!" is worse. "Folks say," et cetera! Well, they shouldn't, And if they knew you well, they wouldn't. When you coddle your life, all its vigor and grace Shrink away with the whisper, "We're in the wrong place." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRIVILEGE OF BEING by ROBERT HASS SEAWATER STIFFENS CLOTH by JANE HIRSHFIELD SAYING YES TO LIVING by DAVID IGNATOW THE WORLD IS SO DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP by DAVID IGNATOW EMERSON by MARY ELIZABETH MAPES DODGE |
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