|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HAPPY PRINTER, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The printer's is a happy lot Last Line: And gets an old age pension. Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin Subject(s): Printing & Printers | |||
'Hoc est vivere.' -- MARTIAL. THE Printer's is a happy lot: Alone of all professions, No fateful smudges ever blot His earliest 'impressions.' The outgrowth of his youthful ken No cold obstruction fetters; He quickly learns the 'types' of men, And all the world of 'letters.' With 'forms' he scorns to compromise; For him no 'rule' has terrors; The 'slips' he makes, he can 'revise' -- They are but 'printers' errors.' From doubtful questions of the 'Press' He wisely holds aloof; In all polemics, more or less, His argument is 'proof.' Save in their 'case,' with High and Low, Small need has he to grapple! Without dissent he still can go To his accustomed 'Chapel.' From ills that others scape or shirk, He rarely fails to rally; For him, his most 'composing' work Is labour of the 'galley.' Though ways be foul, and days are dim, He makes no lamentation; The primal 'fount' of woe to him Is -- want of occupation: And when, at last, Time finds him gray With over-close attention, He solves the problem of the day, And gets an Old Age pension. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PARLEYINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE OF IMPORTANCE: FUST AND FRIENDS by ROBERT BROWNING SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD: 1. THE PRINTING-PRESS by CHRISTOPHER PEARSE CRANCH A PLEASANT INFECTIVE AGAINST PRINTING by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE PASSIONATE PRINTER TO HIS LOVE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON TO AN EDITOR (ON THE RETURN OF A MANUSCRIPT) by WILLIAM STEWARD GORDON ZENGER THE PRINTER by ARTHUR GUITERMAN ERICH THE PRINTER—(B. 1883-D. 1938): (1929) by DAVID WAGONER A FANCY FROM FONTENELLE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
|