A COUNTRY parson took a notion Into his head, one Whitsuntide, That it was more like true devotion To preach extempore; -- he tried: Succeeded once -- twice -- thrice -- but, lo! His fourth discourse was not forthcoming; Spite of his hawing and his humming, Not a word further could he go; So that the worthy man perforce Was fain to leave them in the lurch, And say, that, since he came to church, He'd lost the thread of his discourse. Whereat a man below exclaimed, "Lock the doors, beadle! search us round, All, every one, until it's found; The thief should really be ashamed. -- Here are @3my@1 pockets -- ransack both! @3I@1 have it not, I'll take my oath." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EXILE TO HIS WIFE by JOSEPH BRENAN THE BLACK RIDERS: 22 by STEPHEN CRANE THE MOWER'S SONG by ANDREW MARVELL LOVE AND SLEEP by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE THE RIVER-GOD'S SONG by FRANCIS BEAUMONT |