Social Commentaries
Pioneers, O Pioneers
From Wine, Water and Song (1915)
Nebuchadnezzar the King of the Jews
Suffered from new and original views,
He crawled on his hands and knees, it's said,
With grass in his mouth and a crown on his head.
With a wowtyiddly, etc.
Those in traditional paths that trod
Thought the thing was a curse from God,
But a Pioneer men always abuse
Like Nebuchadnezzar the King of the Jews.
Black Lord Foulon the Frenchman slew
Thought it a Futurist thing to do.
He offered them grass instead of bread.
So they stuffed him with grass when they cut off his head.
With a wowtyiddly, etc.
For the pride of his soul he perished then--
But of course it is always of Pride that men,
A Man in Advance of his Age accuse,
Like Nebuchadnezzar the King of the Jews.
Simeon Scudder of Styx, in Maine,
Thought of the thing and was at it again.
He gave good grass and water in pails
To a thousand Irishmen hammering rails.
With a wowtyiddly, etc.
Appetites differ; and tied to a stake
He was tarred and feathered for Conscience' Sake.
But stoning the prophets is ancient news,
Like Nebuchadnezzar the King of the Jews.
Codex Note
A comic song of Nebuchadnezzar, who 'suffered from new and original views', and of the prophets stoned or tarred and feathered for conscience' sake. Whitman's title is turned against the cult of the new.
Cite this poem
MLA
Chesterton, G. K. “Pioneers, O Pioneers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/chesterton/35/.
Chicago
Chesterton, G. K. “Pioneers, O Pioneers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/chesterton/35/.
Read this poem with the Codex →