"Valued companion of my expeditions,
Wanderings, and my street perambulations,
What can be more deserving of my praises
Than my umbrella?
"Under thine ample covering rejoicing,
(All the 'canaille' tumultuously running)
While the rain streams and patters from the housetops,
Slow and majestic,
"I trudge along unwetted, though an ocean
Pours from the clouds, as if some Abernethy
Had given all the nubilary regions
Purges cathartic!
"Others run on in piteous condition,
Black desperation painted in their faces,
While the full flood descends in very pailfuls
Streaming upon them.
"Yea, 'tis as if some cunning necromancer
Had drawn a circle magically round me,
Till like the wretched victim of Kehama,
(Southey's abortion)
"Nothing like liquor ever could approach me!
But it is thou, disinterested comrade,
Bearest the rainy weather uncomplaining,
Oh, my umbrella!
"How many hats, and 'upper Bens,' and new coats,
How many wretched duckings hast thou saved me
Well--I have done--but must be still indebted
To my umbrella!"
Notes
Written whilst at Charterhouse circa 1821-1827
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Comments
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An excellent piece and interestingly about something as mundane as an umbrella.
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Such gushing praise to utility
Such tribute to cosseted majesty.
Such a wordsmith. Love it.
Paul
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Wonderful!
The use of the English language, as it is used here for the humble Umbrella is marvellous. He laughs at others getting soaked in the rain whilst he enjoys his perambulations (lovely word). The power of poetry!
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Aren't you glad I found him? Tupper's misc. poetry was just sitting on top of a pile at my bookstore, waiting for a price. He reminds me very much of Longfellow and Tennyson, and yet I'd never heard of him before - mysteriously forgotten poet.
I especially like these lines,
"Yea, 'tis as if some cunning necromancer
Had drawn a circle magically round me," brilliant! I'd never thought of an umbrella as some wizard's magical force-field.
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