 | New poems by Madison Cawein |  |
THE ASS
Here is a tale for artists and for writers:There was an ass, in other words, a critic,
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And waved long ears above his brother smiters.
He could not tell a rose-tree from a thistle,
But oft mistook the one thing for the other;
Then wagged his ears most wisely at some brother,
Sent him his he-haw for the Penny Whistle.
A poet sent his volume to him: kindly
Asking for criticism.—You might know it:
He made one mouthful of it, weed and flower.
There rose a cry that he had done it blindly.—
'Twas poetry!—What! would he kill a poet!—
Not he! The ass had brayed him into power.
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