 | Collected poems |  |
528
TO THE SAME
[When Churchill wrote, th' Aonian maid]
When Churchill wrote, th' Aonian maid
He served was scarce of speech afraid;
She used no phrase to circumvent
The homely article she meant,
But plainly called a spade a spade.
He served was scarce of speech afraid;
She used no phrase to circumvent
The homely article she meant,
But plainly called a spade a spade.
Nor was the public much dismayed.
He but his age's law obeyed;—
They liked to see the bludgeon's dent
When Churchill wrote.
He but his age's law obeyed;—
They liked to see the bludgeon's dent
When Churchill wrote.
'Tis not so now. To-day the trade
Demands the finest Sheffield blade;
We use a subtler instrument;
We cut for depth and not extent . . .
But would 'twere ours—the Mark they made—
When Churchill wrote.
Demands the finest Sheffield blade;
We use a subtler instrument;
We cut for depth and not extent . . .
But would 'twere ours—the Mark they made—
When Churchill wrote.
| Collected poems | |