Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FABLES: 1ST SER. 38. THE TURKEY AND THE ANT, by JOHN GAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In other men we faults can spy Last Line: Nor for a breakfast nations kill. Subject(s): Ants; Food & Eating; Insects; Turkeys; Bugs | ||||||||
IN other men we faults can spy, And blame the mote that dims their eye, Each little speck and blemish find, To our own stronger errors blind. A Turkey, tir'd of common food, Forsook the barn, and sought the wood, Behind her ran her infant train, Collecting here and there a grain. Draw near, my birds, the mother cries, This hill delicious fare supplies; Behold, the busy Negro race, See, millions blacken all the place! Fear not. Like me, with freedom eat; An ant is most delightful meat. How blest, how envy'd were our life, Could we but 'scape the poult'rer's knife! But man, curst man on turkeys preys, And Christmas shortens all our days; Sometimes with oysters we combine, Sometimes assist the sav'ry chine. From the low peasant to the lord, The turkey smoaks on ev'ry board. Sure men for gluttony are curst, Of the sev'n deadly sins the worst. An Ant, who climb'd beyond his reach, Thus answer'd from the neighb'ring beech. Ere you remark another's sin. Bid thy own conscience look within. Controul thy more voracious bill, Nor for a breakfast nations kill. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EXHAUSTED BUG; FOR MY FATHER by ROBERT BLY PLASTIC BEATITUDE by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR BEETLE LIGHT; FOR DANIEL HILLEN by MADELINE DEFREES CLEMATIS MONTANA by MADELINE DEFREES THOMAS MERTON AND THE WINTER MARSH by NORMAN DUBIE FABLES: 1ST SER. 5. THE WILD BOAR AND THE RAM by JOHN GAY LESSER EPISTLES: TO A LADY ON HER PASSION FOR OLD CHINA by JOHN GAY |
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