Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ADAM POSED by ANNE FINCH

First Line: COULD OUR FIRST FATHER, AT HIS TOILSOME PLOUGH
Last Line: T' HAVE HIT THE WAVERING FORM, OR GIVEN THIS THING A NAME!
Subject(s): ADAM & EVE; BIBLE; RELIGION; EVE; THEOLOGY;

COULD our first father, at his toilsome plough,
Thorns in his path, and labour on his brow,
Clothed only in a rude unpolished skin,
Could he a vain, fantastic nymph have seen,
In all her airs, in all her antic graces,
Her various fashions, and more various faces;
How had it posed that skill, which late assigned
Just appellations to each several kind,
A right idea of the sight to frame;
T' have guessed from what new element she came,
T' have hit the wavering form, or given this thing a name!



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