Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SOCIETY, by GEORGE MEREDITH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SOCIETY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Historic be the survey of our kind
Last Line: They spring another flood of fangs and claws.
Subject(s): Conscience; Law & Lawyers; Upper Classes


HISTORIC be the survey of our kind,
And how their brave Society took shape.
Lion, wolf, vulture, fox, jackal and ape,
The strong of limb, the keen of nose, we find,
Who, with some jars in harmony, combined,
Their primal instincts taming, to escape
The brawl indecent, and hot passions drape.
Convenience pricked conscience, that the mind.
Thus entered they the field of milder beasts,
Which in some sort of civil order graze,
And do half-homage to the God of Laws.
But are they still for their old ravenous feasts,
Earth gives the edifice they build no base:
They spring another flood of fangs and claws.





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