Page:Pocahontas and Other Poems (NY).pdf/196

Rh But yet we never praise the goose, who gave This precious gift. Yet what can fill its place? Think of the clumsy stylus, how absurd! I know, indeed, that smart metallic pens Have undertook to speculate at large, But I eschew them all, and prophesy Goose-quills will be immortal, as the art To which they minister. 'Twere meet for me, Though all beside were dumb, to fondly laud The instrument that from my childhood up Hath been my solace and my chosen friend In hours of loneliness. I'd fain propose That, mid the poultry in the farmer's yard, The goose should wear a ducal coronet. But our republic would not authorize Aught like an order of nobility; And so I institute a simple claim For justice long withheld. I ask my peers, The erudite and learned in the law, Why the recusant owl is singled out As Wisdom's bird? If blind Mythology, Who on her fingers scarcely knew to count Her thirty thousand gods, should groping make Such error, 'tis not strange. But we, who skill To ride the steam, and have a goodly hope To ride the lightning too, need we be ruled By vacillating Delphos? or stand still To sanction her mistakes? The aforesaid owl, With his dull, staring eyes, what hath he done To benefit mankind? Moping all day