Laughter from a Cloud By Walter Raleigh with a foreword by Hilary Raleigh |
TO A LADY WITH AN UNRULY AND ILL-MANNERED DOG
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Laughter from a Cloud | ||
203
TO A LADY WITH AN UNRULY AND ILL-MANNERED DOG
Who bit several Persons of Importance
Your dog is not a dog of grace;
He does not wag the tail or beg;
He bit Miss Dickson in the face;
He bit a Bailie in the leg.
He does not wag the tail or beg;
He bit Miss Dickson in the face;
He bit a Bailie in the leg.
What tragic choices such a dog
Presents to visitor or friend!
Outside there is the Glasgow fog;
Within, a hydrophobic end.
Presents to visitor or friend!
Outside there is the Glasgow fog;
Within, a hydrophobic end.
Yet some relief even terror brings,
For when our life is cold and gray
We waste our strength on little things,
And fret our puny souls away.
For when our life is cold and gray
We waste our strength on little things,
And fret our puny souls away.
A snarl! A scuffle round the room!
A sense that Death is drawing near!
And human creatures reassume
The elemental robe of fear.
A sense that Death is drawing near!
And human creatures reassume
The elemental robe of fear.
204
So when my colleague makes his moan
Of careless cooks, and warts, and debt,
—Enlarge his views, restore his tone,
And introduce him to your Pet!
Of careless cooks, and warts, and debt,
—Enlarge his views, restore his tone,
And introduce him to your Pet!
Quod Raleigh.
Uffington, Berkshire 8th May 1903
Laughter from a Cloud | ||