William Rose Benét

From “Green and Gray”

SCURVY doctrine, that the world is a bubble—

It is much more solid than that!

A monument built out of rubble,

If you will—a high silk hat

With the inevitable brick inside,

A perfect whale of a brick!

Love to make you vain, and pride

To make you sick.

Scurvy doctrine, that love’s a tambourine. A

Love that is fond and true

Is exactly like a tame hyena

(I’m telling this to you!)—

A perfectly tangible hyena,

With perfectly ponderable paws.

You could climb a mountain in Argentina,

But you’d know it was.

Scurvy doctrine, that joy is fleeting—

Joy is howling aloud

At everyone, in every meeting,

In every crowd!

Joy is what the heavens shake with

At the earth beneath.

Joy is the thing you tame the snake with—

And grit your teeth.