A dingy donkey, formal and unchanged, Browsed in the lane and o'er the common ranged, Proud of his ancient asinine possessions, Free from the panniers of the grave professions, He lived at ease; and chancing once to find A lion's skin, the fancy took his mind To personate the monarch of the wood; And for a time the stratagem held good. He moved with so majestical a pace That bears and wolves and all the savage race Gazed in admiring awe, ranging aloof Not over-anxious for a clearer proof — Longer he might have triumph'd — but alas! In an unguarded hour it came to pass He bray'd aloud; and show'd himself an ass! The moral of this tale I could not guess Till Mr Landor sent his works to press. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOHENGRIN; PROEM by EMMA LAZARUS DEXTER GORDON: COPENHAGEN/AVERY FISHER HALL by KAREN SWENSON TO JOHN DONNE (1) by BEN JONSON TWENTY GOLDEN YEARS AGO by JAMES CLARENCE MANGAN MONDAY'S CHILD by MOTHER GOOSE HEART AND MIND by EDITH SITWELL |