Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JOLLY JACK, by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY Poet's Biography First Line: When fierce political debate Last Line: Would copy jolly jack. Subject(s): Contentment | ||||||||
WHEN fierce political debate Throughout the isle was storming, And Rads attacked the throne and state, And Tories the reforming: To calm the furious rage of each, And right the land demented, Heaven sent us Jolly Jack, to teach The way to be contented Jack's bed was straw, 'twas warm and soft, His chair, a three-legged stool; His broken jug was emptied oft, Yet, somehow, always full. His mistress' portrait decked the wall, His mirror had a crack; Yet, gay and glad, though this was all His wealth, lived Jolly Jack. To give advice to avarice, Teach pride its mean condition, And preach good sense to dull pretence, Was honest Jack's high mission. Our simple statesman found his rule Of moral in the flagon, And held his philosophic school Beneath the "George and Dragon." When village Solons cursed the Lords, And called the malt-tax sinful, Jack heeded not their angry words, But smiled and drank his skinful. And when men wasted health and life In search of rank and riches, Jack marked aloof the paltry strife, And wore his threadbare breeches. "I enter not the Church," he said, "But I'll not seek to rob it;" So worthy Jack Joe Miller read, While others studied Cobbett. His talk it was of feast and fun, His guide the Almanack; From youth to age thus gaily run The life of Jolly Jack. And when Jack prayed, as oft he would, He humbly thanked his Maker, "I am," said he, "O Father good! Nor Catholic nor Quaker: Give each his creed, let each proclaim His catalogue of curses; I trust in Thee, and not in them, In Thee and in Thy mercies! "Forgive me if, midst all Thy works, No hint I see of damning, And think there's faith among the Turks, And hope for e'en the Brahmin. Harmless my mind is and my mirth, And kindly is my laughter; I cannot see the smiling earth, And think there's hell hereafter." Jack died; he left no legacy, Save that his story teaches: Content to peevish poverty; Humility to riches. Ye scornful great, ye envious small, Come follow in his track; We all were happier, if we all Would copy Jolly Jack. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PARTHENOPHE: SONNET 66 by BARNABE BARNES I UNCOIL MYSELF AND LIE STRAIGHT OUT by DAVID IGNATOW WITHOUT RECRIMINATION by DAVID IGNATOW EVENTIDE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL by DORIANNE LAUX TO TWO UNKNOWN LADIES by AMY LOWELL LITTLE BILLEE by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY |
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