|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CUPID IN THE TEMPLE, by ROBERT FORD First Line: I canna, winna cloak the fact Last Line: But cease your sabbath descration! Subject(s): Cupid; Love; Eros | |||
I CANNA, winna cloak the fact -- Tho' sairly to my shame it's spoken -- On Sunday gane -- immodest act -- Wi' Cupid I'd a lively yokin'. To kirk I gaed in high resolve To weld my fancy wi' the sermon; Lat naething else my thochts involve, Nor hear, nor see, but Dr. Hermon. But Dauvit's hymn was jimply read, When bang a dart gaed thro' my waistcoat -- A lass afore me turn'd her head, Her charmin' face I gat a glisk o't; It set my being a' alowe, An' a' day lang that face seem'd bent on's; Lat Doctor Hermon rant's he dow, I couldna catch a single sentence. His ilka lang-drawn metaphor Seem'd but word-etchin's o' her features, An' in the pulpit, smitsome fair, I saw her face instead the preacher's; When praises well'd frae every heart, I heard but ae sweet voice afore me; An' when we kneel'd, as when we sate, Her roguish een were beamin' o'er me. By conscience thrice I felt rebuk'd, An' thrice I made renew'd endeavour; Towards the preacher firmly look'd, Determin'd on improved behaviour; But a' was faucht to nae avail, For lood as conscience lik'd to faut me, I couldna help my sinfu' sel', Wi' twa sic een aye lookin' at me. As hame I hied the birdies sang -- "A bonnie lassie! bonnie lassie!" I saw her cheeks the briers amang, I saw her in the very causey. When mither speir'd me for the text, Quo' I, "'twas in the books o' Moses." "The words?" quo' she. I answer'd next -- "Oh! -- sky-blue een an' cheeks o' roses!" Ah! roguie Love, yer fu' o' pranks, Nor wait for time an' place befittin'; Ye smit the sodger in the ranks, The merchant owre the ledger sittin'. But hear me, lad -- a victim flytes -- As ye regaird yer reputation, Employ the week as fancy dites, But cease your Sabbath descration! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MESSAGE FROM THE SLEEPER AT HELL'S MOUTH: 6. ONESELF AT HELL'S MOUTH by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER SONNET: O HUSBAND! by ANNE WALDMAN EROS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES CLEOMENS, OR THE SPARTAN HERO: SONG by JOHN DRYDEN A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON CUPID MISTAKEN by MATTHEW PRIOR DEATH AND CUPID; AN ALLEGORY by JOHN GODFREY SAXE BARBER WILLIE'S BONNIE DAUCHTER by ROBERT FORD |
|