@2M@1ADAM, I must express respectful wonder At your delightful novels, penned despite Your unawareness of the proper thunder Employed by those professionals who write For present generations. You've minor merits; we have—Miss Corelli— She's in "Who's Who" and so is Mistress Ward; Your heroines are @3bourgeoise@1 Liz or Nellie— Such homely English hearts you seem to hoard, Untoned by foreign nations. Your canvas, too, is very small and shrinking— You've said as much yourself—and yet you smile, Content with gentle raillery, not thinking Of what you @3ought@1 to do—belabour guile With stageable gyrations. Indeed, dear Madam Jane, the eagle wheeling, The vulture tearing, e'en the owl sedate, Or brooding hen,—such modern modes of feeling Are foreign to you, I regret to state (With mental reservations). So mild and unobtrusive seems your pleasure It minds us rather of the humming-bird, Sipping and skimming to a patterned measure, Within an ordered park of way and word, 'Mid Spring's felicitations. It's true, of course, that you amused Sir Walter, Lewes, Macaulay, and a number more, But fashions change, Miss Austen, @3have@1 to alter,— Your glowworm humour now is ancient lore, Barren of imitations. In short, although we like you still extremely, It's not the thing to read you nowadays; If only you had been a bit unseemly In style, or bold of plot, why then our praise Might still perform oblations. So good-bye, Madam; we must leave behind us Your wit and wisdom, for no more they'll do: We must progress, the publishers remind us— This chat was pleasant, but it means—adieu!— @3Our@1 people are creations. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 6. CORRINA by THOMAS CAMPION LOVE AND SLEEP by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE THE FISHER'S BOY by HENRY DAVID THOREAU AS NIGHT COMES by CHARLES G. ADAMS THE GIRLS' LOT by AGATHIAS SCHOLASTICUS A FRAGMENT OF AN EPIC POEM, OCCASIONED BY THE LOSS OF A GAME by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |