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Poem
July 22, 1806
The Enquirer
Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A satirical poem where a poplar worm remonstrates against human aversion and cruelty, likening its laborious life to humanity's and highlighting human moral degradation versus the worm's innocence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
FROM
THE NEW-YORK EVENING POST.
Remonstrance of the Poplar Worm.
WRITTEN BY JOHN E. HARWOOD.
What means the quick averted eye,
The nimble footsteps apt to fly,
Whene'er my form appears?
The cruel torture misapplied,
Experiments, more cruel, tried
By vain and idle fears?
You, who my humble form surround,
As slowly creeping on the ground,
Obscure and hid from view.
With toil, what heaven grants, I gain,
I live in labor and in pain,
Know I resemble you:
And you whose gilded chariots fly,
Like meteors in the azure sky,
Your fate resembles mine;
Soon rais'd from dirt on Zephyr's wing
I sail in many an airy ring,
And in rich lustre shine.
One diff'rence 'twixt us there is between,
My loathsome figure forms no screen
Where poison lurks behind;
Whil'st you to vice, to folly given,
Debase the fairest form of Heaven,
Degrade the godlike mind.
Non usitata nec tenui ferar
Pena.
HOR.
THE NEW-YORK EVENING POST.
Remonstrance of the Poplar Worm.
WRITTEN BY JOHN E. HARWOOD.
What means the quick averted eye,
The nimble footsteps apt to fly,
Whene'er my form appears?
The cruel torture misapplied,
Experiments, more cruel, tried
By vain and idle fears?
You, who my humble form surround,
As slowly creeping on the ground,
Obscure and hid from view.
With toil, what heaven grants, I gain,
I live in labor and in pain,
Know I resemble you:
And you whose gilded chariots fly,
Like meteors in the azure sky,
Your fate resembles mine;
Soon rais'd from dirt on Zephyr's wing
I sail in many an airy ring,
And in rich lustre shine.
One diff'rence 'twixt us there is between,
My loathsome figure forms no screen
Where poison lurks behind;
Whil'st you to vice, to folly given,
Debase the fairest form of Heaven,
Degrade the godlike mind.
Non usitata nec tenui ferar
Pena.
HOR.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Poplar Worm
Remonstrance
Human Folly
Vice Virtue
Moral Contrast
What entities or persons were involved?
John E. Harwood
Poem Details
Title
Remonstrance Of The Poplar Worm.
Author
John E. Harwood
Subject
Remonstrance Against Human Cruelty And Folly
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
What Means The Quick Averted Eye,
The Nimble Footsteps Apt To Fly,
Whene'er My Form Appears?
Whil'st You To Vice, To Folly Given,
Debase The Fairest Form Of Heaven,