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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JOHN SKELTON, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: What could be dafter Last Line: Old john, you do me good! Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Skelton, John (1460-1529) | |||
WHAT could be dafter Than John Skelton's laughter? What sound more tenderly Than his pretty poetry? So where to rank old Skelton? He was no monstrous Milton, Nor wrote no "Paradise Lost," So wondered at by most, Phrased so disdainfully, Composed so painfully. He struck what Milton missed, Milling an English grist With homely turn and twist. He was English through and through, Not Greek, nor French, nor Jew, Though well their tongues he knew, The living and the dead: Learned Erasmus said, Hic 'unum Britannicarum Lumen et decus literarum. But oh, Colin Clout! How his pen flies about, Twiddling and turning, Scorching and burning, Thrusting and thrumming! How it hurries with humming, Leaping and running, At the tipsy-topsy Tunning Of Mistress Eleanor Rumming! How for poor Philip Sparrow Was murdered at Carow, How our hearts he does harrow Jest and grief mingle In this jangle-jingle, For he will not stop To sweep nor mop, To prune nor prop, To cut each phrase up Like beef when we sup, Nor sip at each line As at brandy-wine, Or port when we dine. But angrily, wittily, Tenderly, prettily, Laughingly, learnedly, Sadly, madly, Helter-skelter John Rhymes serenely on, As English poets should. Old John, you do me good! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COUNTING THE BEATS by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES DEAD COW FARM by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES GOLIATH AND DAVID by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES IN THE WILDERNESS by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES IT'S A QUEER TIME by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES LOST LOVE by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES NOT DEAD by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES STAR-TALK by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES THE ASSAULT HEROIC by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES |
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