Song of Myself

1I was a Poet!

2But I did not know it,

3Neither did my Mother,

4Nor my Sister nor my Brother.

5The Rich were not aware of it;

6The Poor took no care of it.

7The Reverend Mr. Drewitt

8Never knew it.

9The High did not suspect it;

10The Low could not detect it.

11Aunt Sue

12Said it was obviously untrue.

13Uncle Ned

14Said I was off my head:

15(This from a Colonial

16Was really a good testimonial.)

17Still everybody seemed to think

18That genius owes a good deal to drink.

19So that is how

20I am not a poet now,

21And why

22My inspiration has run dry.

23It is no sort of use

24To cultivate the Muse

25If vulgar people

26Can't tell a village pump from a church steeple.

27I am merely apologizing

28For the lack of the surprising

29In what I write

30To-night.

31I am quite well-meaning,

32But a lot of things are always intervening

33Between

34What I mean

35And what it is said

36I had in my head.

37It is all very puzzling.

38Uncle Ned

39Says Poets need muzzling.

40He might

41Be right.

42Good-night!