IN olden days there dwelt a piper's son, Hight Thomas, who, belike from indigence, Or utter lack of virtuous preference Of honorable means of thrift, did, one Weak hour of temptation -- (weaker none!) -- Put by ye promptings of his better sense, And rashly gat him o'er a neighbor's fence Wherein ye corner was a paling run About a goodly pig; and thence he lured, All surreptitiously, ye hapless beast, And had it slaughtered, salted down, and cured -- Yea, even tricked and garnished for ye feast, Ere yet ye red-eyed Law had him immured, And round and soundly justice-of-ye-peaced. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOTHERHOOD by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY SONGS FOR THE PEOPLE by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: DEDICATORY SONNET by EDMUND SPENSER AEOLIAN HARP (1) by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM EMBLEMS OF LOVE: CUPID TO CHLOE WEEPING; A SONNET by PHILIP AYRES |