Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN ADDRESS TO HIS ELBOW CHAIR, NEW CLOTHED, by WILLIAM SOMERVILE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: My dear companion, and my faithful friend! Last Line: On his great voyage to the world unknown. Alternate Author Name(s): Somerville, William Subject(s): Chairs | ||||||||
MY dear companion, and my faithful friend! If Orpheus taught the listening oaks to bend; If stones and rubbish, at Amphion's call, Danc'd into form, and built the Theban wall, Why shouldst not thou attend my humble lays, And hear my grateful harp resound thy praise? True, thou art spruce and fine, a very beau; But what are trappings and external show? To real worth alone I make my court; Knaves are my scorn, and coxcombs are my sport. Once I beheld thee far less trim and gay, Ragged, disjointed, and to worms a prey; The safe retreat of every lurking mouse; Derided, shunn'd; the lumber of my house. Thy robe how chang'd from what it was before! Thy velvet robe, which pleas'd my sires of yore! 'Tis thus capricious Fortune wheels us round; Aloft we mount -- then tumble to the ground. Yet grateful then, my constancy I prov'd; I knew thy worth; my friend in rags I lov'd: I lov'd thee more; nor like a courtier, spurn'd My benefactor, when the tide was turn'd. With conscious shame, yet frankly, I confess That in my youthful days -- I lov'd thee less. Where vanity, where pleasure call'd, I stray'd, And every wayward appetite obey'd. But sage Experience taught me how to prize Myself; and how this world; she bade me rise To nobler flights, regardless of a race Of factious emmets; pointed where to place My bliss, and lodg'd me in thy soft embrace. Here on thy yielding down I sit secure, And, patiently, what Heaven has sent endure; From all the futile cares of business free, Not fond of life, but yet content to be; Here mark the fleeting hours; regret the past; And seriously prepare to meet the last. So safe on shore the pension'd sailor lies, And all the malice of the storm defies; With ease of body bless'd, and peace of mind, Pities the restless crew he left behind; Whilst, in his cell, he meditates alone On his great voyage to the world unknown. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MEMORY OF THE SAD CHAIR by JOHN CIARDI THE CHAIRS THAT NO ONE SITS IN by BILLY COLLINS THE OLD ARM-CHAIR by ELIZA COOK THE ROCKING CHAIR by ABRAHAM MOSES KLEIN THE VIERZIDE CHAIRS by WILLIAM BARNES ODE. SITTING AND DRINKING IN THE CHAIR ... by ABRAHAM COWLEY UPON THE CHAIR MADE OUT OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE'S SHIP ... by ABRAHAM COWLEY HUDIBRAS AND MILTON RECONCILED; TO SIR ADOLPHUS OUGHTON by WILLIAM SOMERVILE PRESENTING TO A LADY A WHITE ROSE AND A RED, ON 10TH OF JUNE by WILLIAM SOMERVILE |
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