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
lips meet parting pass peaceful shall thee word
May I but meet thee on that peaceful shore,/ The parting word shall pass my lips no more!
cast children deal life men toys
Men deal with life as children with their play,Who first misuse, then cast their toys away.
awkward goal leg lies-and-lying lose truth
One leg by truth supported, one by lies,They sidle to the goal with awkward pace,Secure of nothing -- but to lose the race.
gives scent
Nature, exerting an unwearied power,Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower.
gives scent
Nature, exerting an unwearied power, Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower.
imposed pleasures whose wish
Mortals, whose pleasures are their only care,/ First wish to be imposed on, and then are.
hat soon wig
My hat and wig will soon be here, / They are upon the road.
backward beast received thy till
My God, till I received thy stroke, / How like a beast was I! / So unaccustomed to the yoke, / So backward to comply.
lies lies-and-lying silent
When this poor, lisping, stammering tongue/ Lies silent in the grave.
mechanic mere poetry tune
Made poetry a mere mechanic art; / And every warbler has his tune by heart.
along guilty public shake
Let her pass, and charioted along / In guilty splendour, shake the public ways!
aching hours left memory peaceful sweet void
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! / How sweet their memory still! / But they have left an aching void / The world can never fill.
drop half pause puff sentence solemn time
The pipe, with solemn interposing puff,Makes half a sentence at a time enough;The dozing sages drop the drowsy strain,Then pause, and puff -- and speak, and pause again.
days pleasure thus
Thus always teasing others, and days teas'd, His only pleasure is to be displeas'd