Advice to a Friend
Advice to a Friend
Original Text
Thomas Thornely, Verses from Fen and Fell (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1919): 95-96.
1When worn by worry, born of bills,
2Or other irritating ills,
3You seek relief in throbs and thrills,
4From thoughts that throng and trouble you,
5Hie not to heather-harbouring hills;
6Fly not to lonely, rippling rills;
7Try not the dancing daffodils,
8Of Mr W. W.
9The joy the poet sings will pall,
10The solace that it brings is small,
11In fact it will not soothe your sufferings at all.
12These simple pleasures were designed,
13(As many disillusioned find)
14For that uncommon cast of mind,
15Called unsophisticated.
16And people to that way inclined,
17Will turn their backs on human-kind,
18Vowing all other men are blind,
19All other joys o-er-rated.
20If I know anything of you,
21(I think I know you through and through!)
22These artless rural raptures simply will not do!
23Doubt not my sympathy sincere,
24This is no supercilious sneer,
25But choose another atmosphere,
26Your weight of woe to lighten.
27Go not to Wales or Windermere,
28See parasol, parade and pier,
29Drink--if you be not bilious--beer,
30And hear the band at Brighton.
31That pebbled, peopled, Pierrot'd strand
32Will furnish ready to your hand,
33The only thrills and throbs that you can understand.
Publication Start Year
1919
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2009
Rhyme
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