William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth26 November 1731
difficult ease idleness life
The life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
monarch none
I am monarch of all I survey,My right there is none to dispute.
finds fools idle wisdom wishes
In idle wishes fools supinely stay;Be there a will, -- and wisdom finds a way.
home dark space
Philologists, who chase A painting syllable through time and space Start it at home, and hunt it in the dark, To Gaul, to Greece, and into Noah's Ark.
relationship happiness fall
Domestic happiness, thou only bliss Of paradise that has surviv'd the fall!
winter years rulers
O Winter, ruler of the inverted year!
sleep sick nurse
The nurse sleeps sweetly, hired to watch the sick, / whom, snoring, she disturbs.
religion treasure heavenly
Religion! what treasure untold resides in that heavenly word!
daughter eye sky
Sends Nature forth the daughter of the skies... To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes.
men insanity shelter
Man disavows, and Deity disowns me: hell might afford my miseries a shelter; therefore hell keeps her ever-hungry mouths all bolted against me.
healing men feelings
A man renowned for repartee will seldom scruple to make free with friendship's finest feeling, will thrust a dagger at your breast, and say he wounded you in jest, by way of balm for healing.
joy passionate may
A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your joys disperse at one immense explosion.
horse kissing saddles
Lived in his saddle, loved the chase, the course, And always, ere he mounted, kiss'd his horse.
retirement kings home
O Winter! ruler of the inverted year, . . . I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturbed Retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening, know.