A Verseman's Apology Poem by Robert William Service
A Verseman's Apology
Alas! I am only a rhymer,
I don't know the meaning of Art;
But I learned in my little school primer
To love Eugene Field and Bret Harte.
I hailed Hoosier Ryley with pleasure,
To John Hay I took off my hat;
These fellows were right to my measure,
And I've never gone higher than that.
The Classics! Well, most of them bore me,
The Moderns I don't understand;
But I keep Burns, my kinsman before me,
And Kipling, my friend, is at hand.
They taught me my trade as I know it,
Yet though at their feet I have sat,
For God-sake don't call me a poet,
For I've never been guilty of that.
A rhyme-rustler, rugged and shameless,
A Bab Balladeer on the loose;
Of saccarine sonnets I'm blameless,
My model has been - Mother Goose.
And I fancy my grave-digger griping
As he gives my last lodging a pat:
"This guy wrote McGrew;
'Twas the best he could do" . . .
So I'll go to my maker with that.
A fine and humble tribute to great poets of the past and to their invaluable contribution to the world of literature. Thanks for sharing this timeless piece of poetry.
I don't think I will take his talent at his word- -his poetry often has a bite beneath its words, a wry look below the surface
Service is pointing out something in this poem that I think it’s important to note—the gap between what I’ll call popular poetry and what I can only think of, at the moment, as the more refined or high-brow stuff. But Service, I’m guessing, is not representing his own tastes completely. The reason “classics” like the Odyssey and Canterbury Tales and Shakespeare’s plays endure is that they were able to cross the gap and appeal to low and high-brow both. -GK
An ironic view of his own ability as a poet. 'For God's sake don't call me a poet, For I've never been guilty of that'
the great poetic expression on the thought of apology - For God-sake don't call me a poet, For I've never been guilty of that.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/24/2024 7:40:10 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Such a fine work by Robert William Service............................