Whats My Thought Like?

By Thomas Moore

    Quest. Why is a Pump like Viscount Castlereagh?     Answ. Because it is a slender thing of wood,         That up and down its awkward arm doth sway,         And coolly spout and spout and spout away,     In one weak, washy, everlasting flood!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
This seemingly simple yet sardonic poem employs metaphor and satire as its key literary devices to draw a critical comparison between a pump and Viscount Castlereagh, a political figure of the time. The poet juxtaposes the physical attributes and actions of a pump with the Viscount's perceived personality and actions, thereby critiquing his political endeavours. The repetitive action of the pump "spout and spout and spout away" mirrors the poet's view of the Viscount's unending, unconvincing rhetoric.

The tone of the poem is decidedly critical and mocking, underscored by the use of adjectives such as "slender," "awkward," "weak," and "washy." The structure is simple but effective - a question and answer format that leads the reader directly into the poet's critique. The poem's theme revolves around political satire, a commentary on the hollow, performative nature of political discourse as seen by the poet. The use of everyday, common imagery (a water pump) to represent a high-ranking political figure is a potent tool to drive home the poet's scornful view. The poem, despite its brevity, effectively conveys the poet's dissatisfaction and critique of the Viscount, demonstrating the power of poetic expression in social and political commentary.