In Other Words/It's Really Disheartening
It’s Really Disheartening
When Homer smote his you-know-what To sing about M. J. Ulysses,Old Constant Reader said ’twas not The thing to read to youths and misses.And Old Subscriber sent a note Whose words Hellenic I’ve forgotten—Translated, this is what he wrote: “Please can this Homer simp; he’s rotten.”
When Q. Horatius penned a pome And put it in the Sabine Journal,Pro Bono Publico, of Rome, Wrote in: “This column is infernal.If that is humorous, good night! Don’t tell me that you pay him money.Whoever said this boob could write? Whoever told him he was funny?”
And when a column, all in rhyme, In solid agate, signed ‘‘John Milton,”Appeared, some cleped him “Quince” and “Lime,” And said his stuff was very Stilton.When Avon’s bard put on a play Those were who said: “He can’t deliver,This William Shaxpur! Fade away! Good sooth, the fellow is a flivver!”
His path is steep, his lot is hard, Who Rare and Wondrous Lines composes.Alas! to be a famous bard Is not an ostermoor of roses!And if of those great poet-men Some folks would say: “This guy a shine is,” What show have I? for now and then Their stuff was just as good as mine is.