Poetry Archives

I love to watch my seven cows
In meads of buttercups abrowse,
          With guilded knees;
But even more I love to see
Them chew the cud so tranquilly
          In twilight ease.

Each is the image of content
From fragrant hours in clover spent,
          ’Mid leaf and bud;
As up and down without a pause
Mechanically move their jaws
          To chew the cud.

Friend, there’s a hope for me and you:
Let us resolve to chew and chew
          With molars strong;
The man who learns to masticate
With patience may control his fate,
          His life prolong.

In salivation is salvation:
So if some silly little nation
          Should bathe in blood,
Let’s take a lesson from the cow,
And learn in life’s long gloaming how
          To chew the cud.