Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO DISRAELI ON CONSERVATISM by MARIANNE MOORE

Poet Analysis

First Line: YOU BRILLIANT JEW, / YOU BRIGHT PARTICULAR CHAMELEON, YOU
Last Line: SOUND SENSE IS CONTRABAND.
Subject(s): DISRAELI, BENJAMIN (1804-1881);
YOU brilliant Jew,
You bright particular chameleon, you
Regild a shabby fence.

They understood
Your stripes and particolored mind, who could
Begrudge you prominence

And call you cold!
But when has prejudice been glad to hold
A lizard in its hand—

A subtle thing?
To sense fed on a fine imagining,
Sound sense is contraband.



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