A Government-bull yoked to a Government-cart! Moored by the bank of Ch'an River, a barge loaded with gravel. A single load of gravel, How many pounds it weighs! Carrying at dawn, carrying at dusk, what is it all for? They are carrying it towards the Five Gates, To the West of the Main Road. Under the shadow of green laurels they are making a gravel-drive. For yesterday arrove, newly appointed, The Assistant Chancellor of the Realm, And was terribly afraid that the wet and mud Would dirty his horse's hoofs. The Chancellor's horses hoofs Stepped on the gravel and remained perfectly clean; But the bull employed in dragging the cart Was almost sweating blood. The Assistant Chancellor's business Is to "save men, govern the country And harmonize Yin and Yang." Whether the bull's neck is sore Need not trouble him at all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT DOVER CLIFFS, JULY 20, 1787 by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES WE WEAR THE MASK by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR BEDTIME by FRANCIS ROBERT ST. CLAIR ERSKINE THE ORPHAN BOY'S TALE by AMELIA OPIE ODES III, 29 by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS TIPPERARY: 5. BY OUR OWN EUGENE FIELD by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 38. NO PERJURY IN LOVE by PHILIP AYRES BRUCE: HOW AYMER DE VALENCE, AND JOHN OF LORN CHASED THE BRUCE ... by JOHN BARBOUR |