LIKE a top which runneth round And never winneth any ground; Or th' dying scion of a vine That rather breaks than it will twine; Or th' sightless mole whose life is spent Divided from her element; Or plants removed from Tagus' shore Who never bloom or blossom more; Or dark Cimmerians who delight In shady shroud of pitchy night; Or mopping apes who are possessed Their cubs are ever prettiest; So he who makes his own opinion To be his one and only minion, Nor will incline in any season To th' weight of proof or strength of reason, But prefers will precipitate 'Fore judgment that's deliberate; He ne'er shall lodge within my roof Till, rectified by due reproof, He labours to reform this ill By giving way to others' will. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AUGUST MOONRISE by SARA TEASDALE TASTING THE EARTH by JAMES OPPENHEIM TO THE ONE OF FICTIVE MUSIC by WALLACE STEVENS THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE by ALFRED TENNYSON QUATRAIN: THE PARCAE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 17. THE BESTOWER by EDWIN ARNOLD ON THE BACKWARDNESS OF THE SPRING 1771 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |