To A New England Poet

Philip Freneau 1752 (New York City) – 1832 (Matawan)



Though skilled in Latin and in Greek,
And earning fifty cents a week,
Such knowledge, and the income, too,
Should teach you better what to do:
    The meanest drudges, kept in pay,
    Can pocket fifty cents a day.

Why stay in such a tasteless land,
Where all must on a level stand,
(Excepting people, at their ease,
Who choose the level where they please:)
    See Irving gone to Britain's court
    To people of another sort,
    He will return, with wealth and fame,
    While Yankees hardly know your name.

Lo! he has kissed a Monarch's--hand!
Before a prince I see him stand,
And with the glittering nobles mix,
Forgetting times of seventy-six,
While you with terror meet the frown
Of Bank Directors of the town,
    The home-made nobles of our times,
    Who hate the bard, and spurn his rhymes.

Why pause?--like Irving, haste away,
To England your addresses pay;
And England will reward you well,
    Of British feats, and British arms,
    The maids of honor, and their charms.

Dear bard, I pray you, take the hint,
In England what you write and print,
Republished here in shop, or stall,
Will perfectly enchant us all:
    It will assume a different face,
    And post your name at every place,
    From splendid domes of first degree
    Where ladies meet, to sip their tea;
    From marble halls, where lawyers plead,
    Or Congress-men talk loud, indeed,
    To huts, where evening clubs appear,
    And 'squires resort--to guzzle Beer.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:14 min read
86

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCC DDEEFFGG DDHHIIJJ CCXKK LLMMNNOOPPQQ
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,419
Words 245
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 6, 8, 8, 5, 12

Philip Freneau

Philip Morin Freneau was an American poet, nationalist, polemicist, sea captain and newspaper editor sometimes called the "Poet of the American Revolution". more…

All Philip Freneau poems | Philip Freneau Books

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