Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EPISTLE TO DANIEL SHEPHERD, by HERMAN MELVILLE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: To daniel shepherd Last Line: And that where genial friendship dwells. Subject(s): Shepherd, Daniel (d. 1870) | ||||||||
To Daniel Shepherd: Come, Shepherd, come and visit me: Come, we'll make it Arcady; Come, if but for charity. Sure, with such a pastoral name, Thee the city should not claim. Come, then, Shepherd, come away, Thy sheep in bordering pastures stray. Come, Daniel, come and visit me: I'm lost in many a quandary: I've dreamed, like Bab'lon's Majesty: Prophet, come expound for me. -- I dreamed I saw a laurel grove, Claimed for his by the bird of Jove, Who, elate with such dominion, Oft cuffed the boughs with haughty pinion. Indignantly the trees complain, Accursing his afflictive reign. Their plaints the chivalry excite Of churlishness, a plucky host: They battle with the bird of light. Beaten, he wings his Northward flight, No more his laurel realm to boast, Where now, to crow, the cocks alight, And -- break down all the branches quite! Such a weight of friendship pure The grateful trees could not endure. This dream, it still disturbeth me: Seer, foreshows it Italy? But other visions stir my head; No poet-problems, fancy-fed -- Domestic prose of board and bed. I marvel oft how guest unwined Will to this farm-house be resigned. Not a hint of ruby claret Cooleth in our cellar-bin; And, ripening in our sultry garret, Otard glows no flask within. (Claret and otard here I name Because each is your fav'rite flame: Placed 'tween the two decanters, you, Like Alexander, your dear charmers view, And both so fair you find, you neither can eschew: -- That's what they call an Alexandrine; Don't you think it very damn'd fine?) -- Brackets serve to fence this prattle, Pound for episodic cattle. -- I said that me the Fates do cripple In matter of a wholesome 'tipple." Now, is it for oft cursing gold, For lucre vile, The Hags do thus from me withold Sweet Bacchus' smile? Smile, that like other smiles as mellow, Not often greets Truth's simple fellow: -- For why? Not his the magic Dollar? You should know, you Wall-Street scholar! -- Of Bourbon that is rather new I brag a fat black bottle or two, -- Shepherd, is this such Mountain-Dew As one might fitly offer you? But if cold water will content ye My word, of that ye shall have plenty. Thanks to late floods, our spring, it brims, -- Will't mind o'crunch of goblet-rims? -- I've told some doubts that sadly pose me: Come thou now, and straight resolve me. Come, these matters sagely read, Daniel, of the prophet breed. Daniel Shepherd, come and rove -- Freely rove two fally dells; The one the Housatonic clove, And that where genial Friendship dwells. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE A REQUIEM FOR SOLDIERS LOST IN OCEAN TRANSPORTS by HERMAN MELVILLE A UTILITARIAN VIEW OF THE MONITOR'S FIGHT by HERMAN MELVILLE AFTER THE PLEASURE PARTY by HERMAN MELVILLE AN UNINSCRIBED MONUMENT - BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS by HERMAN MELVILLE AT THE CANNON'S MOUTH by HERMAN MELVILLE BALL'S BLUFF; A REVERIE by HERMAN MELVILLE |
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