Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE JESTER'S PLEA, by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON Poet's Biography First Line: The world! Was jester ever in Last Line: Forgive the bells their jingle. Alternate Author Name(s): Locker, Frederick Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Thought; Thinking | ||||||||
The World! Was jester ever in A viler than the present? Yet if it ugly be -- as sin, It almost is--as pleasant! It is a merry world (pro tem.); And some are gay, and therefore It pleases them -- but some condemn The fun they do not care for. It is an ugly world. Offend Good people--how they wrangle! The manners that they never mend! The characters they mangle! They eat, and drink, and scheme, and plot And go to church on Sunday; And many are afraid of God-- And more of Mrs. Grundy. The time for Pen and Sword was when "My ladye fayre "for pity Could tend her wounded knight, and then Grow tender at his ditty! Some ladies now make pretty songs, And some make pretty nurses; Some men are good for righting wrongs And some for writing verses. I wish We better understood The tax that poets levy! I know the Muse is very good-- I think she's rather heavy. She now compounds for winning ways By morals of the sternest: Methinks the lays of nowadays Are painfully in earnest. When Wisdom halts, I humbly try To make the most of Folly; If Pallas be unwilling, I Prefer to flirt with Polly: To quit the goddess for the maid Seems low in lofty musers; But Pallas is a haughty jade-- And beggars can't be choosers. I do not wish to see the slaves Of party, stirring passion; Or psalms quite superseding staves, Or piety "the fashion." I bless the hearts where pitty glows, Who, here together banded, Are holding out a hand to those That wail so empty-handed! A righteous work! -- My Masters, may A Jester by compression, Scarce noticed join, half sad, half gay, The close of your procession? The motley here seems out of place With graver robes to mingle; But if one tear bedews his face, Forgive the bells their jingle. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MILLE ET UN SENTIMENTS (PREMIERS CENTS) by DENISE DUHAMEL SUNDAY AFTERNOON by CLARENCE MAJOR I BROOD ABOUT SOME CONCEPTS, FOR EXAMPLE by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER EASY LESSONS IN GEOPHAGY by KENNETH REXROTH GENTLEMEN, I ADDRESS YOU PUBLICLY by KENNETH REXROTH ON FLOWER WREATH HILL: 1 by KENNETH REXROTH A NICE CORRESPONDENT by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON |
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