COWARD, -- of heroic size, In whose lazy muscles lies Strength we fear and yet despise; Savage, -- whose relentless tusks Are content with acorn husks; Robber, -- whose exploits ne're soared O'er the bee's or squirrel's hoard; Whiskered chin, and feeble nose, Claws of steel on baby toes, -- Here, in solitude and shade, Shambling, shuffling plantigrade, Be thy courses undismayed! Here, where Nature makes thy bed, Let thy rude, half-human tread Point to hidden Indian springs, Lost in ferns and fragrant grasses, Hovered o'er by timid wings, Where the wood-duck lightly passes, Where the wild bee holds her sweets, Epicurean retreats, Fit for thee, and better than fearful spoils of dangerous man. In thy fat-jowled deviltry Friar Tuck shall live in thee; Thou mayest levy tithe and dole; Thou shalt spread the woodland cheer, From the pilgrim taking toll; Match thy cunning with his fear; Eat, and drink, and have thy fill; Yet remain an outlaw still! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MESSAGES by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON SEVEN SAD SONNETS: 7. THEY MEET AGAIN by MARY REYNOLDS ALDIS SONNET: GHOSTS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EN TOUR; A SONG SEQUENCE: 5. THE EXILE by ALBERTA BANCROFT THE LAST MAN: ROSILY DYING by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES A DIGIT OF THE MOON by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT ON A FERRY BOAT by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON REMARKS ON DR. BROWN'S 'ESTIMATE OF THE MANNERS OF THE TIMES' by JOHN BYROM |