Social Commentaries

A Bull

by Thomas Hood 1799–1845

From The Comic Poems of Thomas Hood

Social Commentaries

One day, no matter where or when,
Except 'twas after some Hibernian revel,
For why? an Irishman is ready then
"To play the Devil"--
A Pat, whose surname has escaped the Bards,
Agreed to play with Nick a game at cards.
The stake, the same that the old Source of Sin
From German Faustus and his German Cousins
Had won by dozens;
The only one in fact he cares a pin
To win.

By luck or roguery of course Old Nick
Won ev'ry trick:
The score was full, the last turn-up had done it--
"Your soul--I've won it!"

"It's true for you I've lost that same,"
Said Pat a little hazy in his wits--
"My soul is yours--but come, another game--
Double, or quits!"

MLA

Hood, Thomas. “A Bull.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hood/132/.

Chicago

Hood, Thomas. “A Bull.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hood/132/.

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