I I HAVE a bookcase, which is what Many much better men have not. There are no books inside, for books, I am afraid, might spoil its looks. But I've three busts, all second-hand, Upon the top. You understand I could not put them underneath -- Shake, Mulleary and Go-ethe. II Shake was a dramatist of note; He lived by writing things to quote, He long ago put on his shroud: Some of his works are rather loud. His bald-spot's dusty, I suppose. I know there's dust upon his nose. I'll have to give each nose a sheath -- Shake, Mulleary and Go-ethe. III Mulleary's line was quite the same; He has more hair, but far less fame. I would not from that fame retrench -- But he is foreign, being French. Yet high his haughty head he heaves, The only one done up in leaves, They're rather limited on wreath -- Shake, Mulleary and Go-ethe. IV Go-ethe wrote in the German tongue: He must have learned it very young. His nose is quite a butt for scoff, Although an inch of it is off. He did quite nicely for the Dutch; But here he doesn't count for much. They all are off their native heath -- Shake, Mulleary and Go-ethe. V They sit there, on their chests, as bland As if they were not second-hand. I do not know of what they think, Nor why they never frown or wink. But why from smiling they refrain I think I clearly can explain: They none of them could show much teeth -- Shake, Mulleary and Go-ethe. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SHE HEARS THE STORM by THOMAS HARDY THE WINDHOVER: TO CHRIST OUR LORD by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS FOR DECORATION DAY: 1861-1865 by RUPERT HUGHES THE HERONS OF ELMWOOD by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW FRIENDS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS FOOTLIGHT MOTIFS: 1. MRS. VERNON CASTLE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): REMORSE by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 44 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |