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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON AN UNSOCIABLE FAMILY by ELIZABETH HANDS

First Line: O WHAT A STRANGE PARCEL OF CREATURES ARE WE
Last Line: FOR TO PLEASE OURSELVES, TRULY, IS MORE THAN WE CAN.
Subject(s): FAMILY LIFE; INDIFFERENCE; RELATIVES;

O WHAT a strange parcel of creatures are we,
Scarce ever to quarrel, or even agree;
We all are alone, though at home altogether,
Except to the fire constrained by the weather;
Then one says, ''Tis cold', which we all of us know,
And with unanimity answer, ''Tis so':
With shrugs and with shivers all look at the fire,
And shuffle ourselves and our chairs a bit nigher;
Then quickly, preceded by silence profound,
A yawn epidemical catches around:
Like social companions we never fall out,
Nor ever care what one another's about;
To comfort each other is never our plan,
For to please ourselves, truly, is more than we can.



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