Best Poems - Flattery

Best Poems – FLATTERY

In Praise of Boys – Countee Cullen

(Hoping it will evoke an answer from the ladies.)

“Thank God for boys!
For the urge in them and the surge in them,
For the god that stifles the dirge in them,
And laughs at the height of the stars;
For their devil-may-care, insolent air,
Hiding the grim, deep places where
Bruises and red wounds are.
The past is proud of its part in them,
Today finds its soul and its heart in them,
And tomorrow stands eagerly by,
Wanting the men she’ll find in them,
The brain and the brawn and the mind in them,
Strength of limb and ardor of eye.

Thank God for boys!
For the men they make, and the reins they take
Of enterprise and rule;
Thank God for the wise who philosophize,
And don’t forget the fool.
For thinker and dreamer, for plodder and schemer,
For fighter and brawler and ne’er-do-well;
For the ones who roam, who will some day come
Bloody and battered back from hell;
For the worst of them and the best of them,
For the glad and the sad and the rest of them;
For their swaggering gait in the teeth of fate,
For their nonchalant equipoise;
For their pride in life and their scorn for death—
Thank God, thank God for boys!”

The Spider and the Fly – Mary Howitt

“Will you step into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly;
‘Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to show when you are there.’
‘O no, no,’ said the little fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.’

‘I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?’ said the spider to the fly.
‘There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in.’
‘O no, no,” said the little fly, ‘for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed.’

Said the cunning spider to the fly, ‘Dear friend, what shall I do,
To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome; will you please to take a slice?’
‘O no, no,’ said the little fly, ‘kind sir, that cannot be;
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.’

‘Sweet creature!’ said the spider, ‘You’re witty and you’re wise!
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.’
‘I thank you, gentle sir,’ she said, ‘for what you’re pleased to say,
And bidding you good-morning now, I’ll call another day.’

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly fly would soon be back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing
‘Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing:
Your robes are green and purple; there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.’

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,
Hearing his wily flattering words, came slowly flitting by.
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head—poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlor; but she ne’er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed;
Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.”

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