Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FABLES: 1ST SER. 41. THE OWL AND THE FARMER, by JOHN GAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: An owl of grave deport and mien Last Line: Fools in derision follow fools. Subject(s): Birds; Owls; Wisdom | ||||||||
An Owl of grave deport and mien, Who (like the Turk) was seldom seen, Within a barn had chose his station, As fit for prey and contemplation: Upon a beam aloft he sits, And nods, and seems to think, by fits. So have I seen a man of news Or Post-boy, or Gazette peruse, Smoak, nod, and talk with voice profound, And fix the fate of Europe round. Sheaves pil'd on sheaves hid all the floor: At dawn of morn to view his store The Farmer came. The hooting guest His self-importance thus exprest. Reason in man is meer pretence: How weak, how shallow is his sense! To treat with scorn the bird of night, Declares his folly or his spite; Then too, how partial is his praise! The lark's, the linnet's chirping lays To his ill-judging ears are fine; And nightingales are all divine. But the more knowing feather'd race See wisdom stampt upon my face. Whene'er to visit light I deign, What flocks of fowl compose my train! Like slaves, they croud my flight behind, And own me of superior kind. The Farmer laugh'd, and thus reply'd. Thou dull important lump of pride, Dar'st thou with that harsh grating tongue Depreciate birds of warbling song? Indulge thy spleen. Know, men and fowl Regard thee, as thou art, an owl. Besides, proud blockhead, be not vain Of what thou call'st thy slaves and train. Few follow wisdom or her rules, Fools in derision follow fools. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 5 by CONRAD AIKEN SONG: NOW THAT SHE IS HERE; FOR JOE-ANNE by HAYDEN CARRUTH WISE: HAVING THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND ADOPT THE BEST by LUCILLE CLIFTON WISDOM COMETH WITH THE YEARS by COUNTEE CULLEN FOR RANDALL JARRELL, 1914-1965 by NORMAN DUBIE THE MORTAL WORDS OF ZWEIK by PHILIP LEVINE 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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