Social Commentaries

Earl Norman and John Truman

by Charles Mackay, LL.D. born 1814; living 1855–57

From A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895 (1895)

Social Commentaries

Through great Earl Norman's acres wide,
A prosperous and a good land,
'T will take you fifty miles to ride
O'er grass, and corn, and woodland.
His age is sixty-nine, or near,
And I 'm scarce twenty-two, man,
And have but fifty pounds a year, —
Poor John Truman!
But would I change? I' faith! not I,
Oh no! not I, says Truman!

Earl Norman dwells in halls of state,
The grandest in the county;
Has forty cousins at his gate,
To feed upon his bounty.
But then he 's deaf — the doctors' care,
While I in whispers woo, man,
And find my physic in the air, —
Stout John Truman!
D' ye think I 'd change for thrice his gold?
Oh no! not I, says Truman!

Earl Norman boasts a gartered knee,
A proof of royal graces;
I wear, by Nelly wrought for me,
A silken pair of braces.
He sports a star upon his breast,
And I a violet blue, man, —
The gift of her who loves me best,
Proud John Truman!
I 'd be myself, and not the Earl,
Oh, that would I, says Truman.

MLA

Mackay, Charles, LL.D. “Earl Norman and John Truman.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mackay_c/22/.

Chicago

Mackay, Charles, LL.D. “Earl Norman and John Truman.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mackay_c/22/.

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