Analysis of A Different Meaning
Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis 1876 (Auburn) – 1938 (Melbourne)
It is truly as lucid as lucid can be;
It is plain as the nose on your face
Though the tactics may be a disgrace, don't you see,
The tactician is not a disgrace.
He may wobble and swerve and crayfish and curve
It is all of it part of the game
But you mustn't say 'Wobbler,' for, prithee, observe
That the meaning is not quite the same.
One might carry this argument ever so far
There is not the least good in denying
That though a man's talk may be lies you must baulk
At describing the talker as 'lying.'
His work may be slow, but it's nonsense, you know.
To declare that the man's a 'slow worker.'
And it he should shirk in the House all his work
'Twould be foolish to call him a 'shirker.'
In quoting such things one could fill up a ream;
It is so to the end of the chatter.
A man who adapts his adversary's scheme,
He need never be called an 'adapter.'
And if he should fuse, it is not the least use
To describe him as being a 'Fuser.'
Such a use of the word is distinctly absurd,
And would earn but contempt for the user.
For a statesman's a statesman right on to the end,
Never mind what his actions resemble;
He may bargain and palter and stumble and falter
And wheedle and scheme and dissemble.
But, observe, these are acts, and though probably facts
That would earn for the mere politician
A horrible name, it is not quite the same
When applied to a master tactician.
And so, you electors, when chewing the ended
Of reflection, attend to this study.
And observe, though a member may meddle with mud
He in not, of necessity, muddy.
Though he turns like a weathercock ten ways at once,
Till you never know which way he's leaning,
To call him a weathercock proves you a dunce,
For it has quite a different meaning.
Scheme | ABABCDCD EFFFXGXE HGHGXEXG XIGIXJDJ KAKAXFBF |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Tetractys (20%) |
Metre | 111011011011 111101111 101011001111 001011001 11100101001 111111101 1110111101 101011101 111011001011 1110110010 11011111111 1010010110 11111111011 1011010110 01111001111 111011101 01011111101 1111011010 01101111 1110111010 01111111011 101111001 101101101001 0111011010 101001011101 1011110010 111001010010 01010010 101111011001 111101010 01001111101 1011010010 011010110010 1010011110 001101011011 1011010010 1111011111 1110111110 111011101 1111010010 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,691 |
Words | 339 |
Sentences | 16 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 |
Lines Amount | 40 |
Letters per line (avg) | 33 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 265 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 66 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 06, 2023
- 1:42 min read
- 135 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"A Different Meaning" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/6126/a-different-meaning>.
Discuss this Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In