Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AIR, by JOHN O'KEEFE Poet's Biography First Line: A flaxen-headed cow-boy, as simple as may be Last Line: You'll forget the little plough-boy that whistled o'er the lea. Alternate Author Name(s): O'keefe, John Subject(s): Aging; Children; Labor & Laborers; Trade; Childhood; Work; Workers | ||||||||
A FLAXEN-HEADED cow-boy, as simple as may be, And next a merry plough-boy, I whistled o'er the lea; But now a saucy footman, I strut in worsted lace, And soon I'll be a butler, and wag my jolly face; When steward I'm promoted, I'll snip a tradesman's bill, My master's coffers empty, my pockets for to fill; When lolling in my chariot, so great a man I'll be, You'll forget the little plough-boy that whistled o'er the lea. I'll buy votes at elections but, when I've made the pelf, I'll stand poll for the Parliament, and then vote in myself; Whatever's good for me, sir, I never will oppose: When all my Ayes are sold off, why, then I'll sell my Noes. I'll bawl, harangue and paragraph, with speeches charm the ear, And when I'm tired on my legs, then I'll sit down a peer. In court or city honour, so great a man I'll be, You'll forget the little plough-boy that whistled o'er the lea. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER WORKING SIXTY HOURS AGAIN FOR WHAT REASON by HICOK. BOB DAY JOB AND NIGHT JOB by ANDREW HUDGINS BIXBY'S LANDING by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON BUILDING WITH STONE by ROBINSON JEFFERS LINES FROM A PLUTOCRATIC POETASTER TO A DITCH-DIGGER by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS IN CALIFORNIA: MORNING, EVENING, LATE JANUARY by DENISE LEVERTOV AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM by RICHARD ALDINGTON |
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