I. A CHINE of beef, God save us all, Far larger than the butcher's stall, And sturdier than the City-wall. II. For this held out until the foe, By dint of blade and potent blow, Fell in pell mell; that did not so. III. With stomachs sharper than their knives, They laid about them for their lives; Well, Eastcheap men, beware your wives. IV. Enraged weapons storm it round, Each seeking for a gaping wound, That in its gravy it seems drown'd. V. Magnanimous flesh, that didst not fall At first assault, or second maul, But a third time defied'st them all! VI. What strength can fate's decree revoke? It was ordain'd thou shouldst be broke; Alas! time fells the sturdy oak. VII. What goodly monuments still appear, What spondyl-bulwarks are there there, What palisaded ribs are here! VIII. This bold monument death defies, Inscribed thus, 'To mirth here lies A trophy and a sacrifice'. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRAYER AT SUNRISE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE WANDERINGS OF OISIN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE TIGER, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE POPLAR FIELD by WILLIAM COWPER EXHORTATION TO PRAYER by MARGARET MERCER THE SPELL OF THE YUKON by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE A TURKISH LEGEND by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH COMPENSATION by E. M. BRAINARD TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. IN THE CHAMBER OF BIRTH by EDWARD CARPENTER |