Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ENGLAND FOR THE ENGLISH, by CHARLES KINGSLEY Poet's Biography First Line: Our demagogues, as wise old aristophanes may show Last Line: Hold fast by english fortitude -- you'll ne'er need irish rant. Subject(s): England; English | ||||||||
OUR demagogues, as wise old Aristophanes may show, Are playing just the game they played two thousand years ago. "They work," says he, "like seamen when they go to fish for eels; They stir the mud, and foul the ponds, and so they fill their creels. For fools, like eels, pop up their heads, whene'er they scent a riot; And orators in shoals would starve, if once the State grew quiet." Moral Let workmen plead the workmen's cause, and trust no flatterer's cant, Hold fast by English fortitude -- you'll ne'er need Irish rant. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NINETEEN FORTY by NORMAN DUBIE GHOSTS IN ENGLAND by ROBINSON JEFFERS STAYING UP FOR ENGLAND by LIAM RECTOR STONE AND FLOWER by KENNETH REXROTH THE HANGED MAN by KENNETH REXROTH ENGLISH TRAIN COMPARTMENT by JOHN UPDIKE A FAREWELL [TO C.E.G.] by CHARLES KINGSLEY A ROUGH RHYME ON A ROUGH MATTER; THE ENGLISH GAME LAWS by CHARLES KINGSLEY |
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