полная версия

Douglas Alfred Bruce
The Placid Pug, and Other Rhymes

 
Annoyed.
 
 
Who would not therefore rather be a Whale,
A Hake, a Haddock, or a Mackerel,
Than linger in this sad uncertain vale
(Here where men sit and hear each other yell)?
Better to go, if other places fail,
To —
 

DIRGE FOR DEFEATED CANDIDATES

 
THE dreadful Dragon and the Unicorn,
Accustomed to be treated with respect,
And much annoyed by present-day neglect,
Have sometimes wished they never had been born,
At least in any world so "unselect."
 
 
Their non-existence being now a "fact"
Accepted by mankind's majority,
They naturally feel quite "up a tree."
They don't know what to do to counteract
These damned delusions of Democracy.
 
 
Although they often walk out in the sun,
And show themselves in all important streets,
Although in fact they have their "regular beats,"
They're hardly ever seen by any one,
And get no notice in the "daily sheets."
 
 
Although as signs they hang on various inns,
They find themselves irrevocably "out."
In vain they prance and caracole about,
Even the tribute of "derisive grins"
Is now denied them in their final rout.
 
 
Mere non-belief in his existence may
Seem, to one emptying a festive flagon
In the interior of the "Wasp and Wagon,"
A very trifling matter any way.
But it is most annoying to the Dragon.
 
 
The subject may appear beneath contempt
To one who holds the world's applause in scorn,
Preferring in a cloister to adorn
"Illumined scrolls in heavenly colours dreamt,"
But it is galling to the Unicorn.
 

POEM FOR THE PROUD

 
SEEN in the mirror of the poet's dream,
(Exclusively reserved for the "elect"),
Each animal supplies us with a theme
For wondering-admiration and respect.
Thus, to those men who truly modest seem
Compare
The Hare.
 
 
The Bee performs all sorts of useful things
When she is gathering honey for the hive,
She fertilises flowers and plants, and brings
Food to keep necessary Drones alive.
Unless annoyed she very seldom stings,
Dear me!
The Bee.
 
 
The Dove extols and cherishes his mate,
And coos and woos all through the summer day.
H is life is blamelessly immaculate,
And though his wings enable him to stray,
He seldom does. He never comes home late.
By Jove!
The Dove.
 
 
The Crow displays a splendid scorn of pelf,
Backed by invulnerable self-restraint.
All specious arts he lays upon the shelf,
And, being free from every primal taint,
He keeps himself entirely to himself.
Bravo
The Crow!
 
 
The Stork compels our admiration, he
Will stand for several hours in the same place
And on one leg, instead of two (or three),
Thus practising economy of space.
A grand example of stability!
Oh Lork!
The Stork.
 
 
The self-repressive Cod, on his own beat,
Swims in elaborately-studied curves.
He keeps below, not wishing to compete
With surface-swimming fishes, though his nerves
Are sometimes tried by lack of air, and heat.
Good God!
The Cod.