Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AFTER HORACE, by ALFRED DENNIS GODLEY Poet's Biography First Line: What asks the bard? He prays for nought Last Line: Or not! Alternate Author Name(s): Godley, A. D. Subject(s): Horace (65-8 B.c.); Muses | ||||||||
WHAT asks the Bard? He prays for nought But what the truly virtuous crave: That is, the things he plainly ought To have. 'Tis not for wealth, with all the shocks That vex distracted millionaires, Plagued by their fluctuating stocks And shares: While plutocrats their millions new Expend upon each costly whim, A great deal less than theirs will do For him: The simple incomes of the poor His meek poetic soul content: Say, 30,000 pounds at four Per cent.! His taste in residence is plain: No palaces his heart rejoice: A cottage in a lane (Park Lane For choice) -- Here be his days in quiet spent: Here let him meditate the Muse: Baronial Halls were only meant For Jews, And lands that stretch with endless span From east to west, from south to north Are often much more trouble than They're worth! Let epicures who eat too much Become uncomfortably stout: Let gourmets feel th' approaching touch Of gout, -- The Bard subsists on simpler food: A dinner, not severely plain, A pint or so of really good Champagne -- Grant him but these, no care he'll take Though Laureates bask in Fortune's smile, Though Kiplings and Corellis make Their pile: Contented with a scantier dole His humble Muse serenely jogs, Remote from scenes where authors roll Their logs: Far from the madding crowd she lurks, And really cares no single jot Whether the public read her works Or not! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN APOLOGY FOR NOT INVOKING THE MUSE by JOHN CIARDI FAREWELL TO TWO MUSES by CAROL FROST PLAINT OF THE POET IN AN IGNORANT AGE by CAROLYN KIZER MUSE OF MIDNIGHT by GREGORY ORR WILD HEART; FOR TRISHA by GREGORY ORR SO HELP ME SAPPHO by ANNE WALDMAN A DIALOGUE ON ETHICS by ALFRED DENNIS GODLEY A HANDBOOK TO HOMER by ALFRED DENNIS GODLEY A NEW DIALOGUE OF THE DEAD; ODYSSEUS AND ARISTOTLE by ALFRED DENNIS GODLEY |
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