Epitaph on a Hare(1783)

by William Cowper

 

Here lies, whom hound did ne’er pursue,
   Nor swifter greyhound follow,
Whose foot ne’er tainted morning dew,
   Nor ear heard huntsman’s hallo’,
 
Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,
   Who, nurs’d with tender care,
And to domestic bounds confin’d,
   Was still a wild Jack-hare.
 
Though duly from my hand he took
   His pittance ev’ry night,
He did it with a jealous look,
   And, when he could, would bite.
 
His diet was of wheaten bread,
   And milk, and oats, and straw,
Thistles, or lettuces instead,
   With sand to scour his maw.
 
On twigs of hawthorn he regal’d,
   On pippins’ russet peel ;
And, when his juicy salads fail’d,
   Slic’d carrot pleas’d him well.
 
A Turkey carpet was his lawn,
   Whereon he lov’d to bound,
To skip and gambol like a fawn,
    And swing his rump around.
 
His frisking was at evening hours,
   For when he lost his fear ;
But most before approaching show’rs,
   Or when a storm drew near.
 
Eight years and five round rolling moons
   He thus saw steal away,
Dozing out all his idle noons,
   And ev’ry night at play.
 
I kept him for his humour’ sake,
   For he would oft beguile
My heart of thoughts that made it ache,
   And force me to a smile.
 
But now, beneath this walnut-shade
   He finds his long, last home,
And waits in snug concealment laid,
   ‘Till gentler Puss shall come.
 
He, still more aged, feels the shocks
   From which no care can save,
And, partner once of Tiney’s box,
   Must soon partake his grave.
 

William Cowper | Classic Poems

 

The Castaway ] [ Epitaph on a Hare ] Light shining out of darkness ] The Poplar-Field ]

 

 


 

 

 
 
 
 

 Poems by Cameron Self | About Us | Contact Us Advertise on PG

© Cameron Self 2003-2014.  All rights reserved.                                                                                                                                  Hosted by UK Web.Solutions Direct