Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MONKEY-SHOWMAN; FROM YRIARTE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MONKEY-SHOWMAN; FROM YRIARTE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A monkey who, by many a prank
Last Line: Who lacks illuminating brains!
Subject(s): Ignorance; Monkeys; Dullness; Stupdity


A MONKEY who, by many a prank,
Had served a strolling mountebank,
And long had sought, with curious eye,
The secret of his arts to spy,
Grew so inflated with conceit,
He swore that there was not a feat
His master did, to charm the crowd,
But he could do, -- were he allowed
To show his skill. So, on a day
When Mister Showman was away,
And Jocko chanced to stay at home,
He summoned all his friends to come
And note how surely he would raise
The customary shouts of praise.
He made his bow, and straight began
To play the "India-Rubber man,"
Who in contorted shapes appears,
And stands -- at last -- upon his ears!
Next, dances on the swinging wire;
Then, as applauding shouts inspire
To bolder deeds, he mounts with ease
And safely braves the high trapeze:
Then takes a musket, and with skill
Performs the Prussian soldier's drill;
At last -- as was his master's way,
To close the wonders of the day --
He brings the "Magic Lantern" out,
Darkens the room, and talks about
The curious things that on the screen
By watchful eyes will now be seen;
Then moves the plates of painted glass
From side to side, and as they pass,
Announces in a pompous speech
The name and character of each
Delightful scene that greets their eyes!
What can it mean? -- no cheers arise!
A storm of hisses come instead,
So fierce the frightened monkey fled,
And, having reached a safer place,
Was told the cause of his disgrace;
To wit, that, while all else was right,
His "Magic Lantern" had no light!

MORAL.

How bootless are the author's pains
Who lacks illuminating brains!





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