Author: Guy Wetmore Carryl

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    A Caledonian piper
    Who was walking on the wold
    Nearly stepped upon a viper
    Rendered torpid by the cold;
    By the sight of her admonished,
    He forbore to plant his boot,
    But he showed he was astonished
    By the way he muttered "Hoot!"

    Now this simple-minded piper
    Such a kindly nature had
    That he lifted up the viper
    And bestowed her in his plaid.
    "Though the Scot is stern, at least he
    No unhappy creature spurns,
    'Sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie,'"
    Quoth the piper (quoting Burns).

    This was unaffected kindness,
    But there was, to state the fact,
    Just a slight soupcon of blindness
    In his charitable act.
    If you'd watched the piper, shortly
    You'd have seen him leap aloft,
    As this snake, of ways uncourtly,
    Bit him suddenly and oft.

    There was really no excuse for
    This, the viper's cruel work,
    And the piper found a use for
    Words he'd never learned at kirk;
    But the biting was so thorough
    That although the doctors tried,
    Not the best in Edinburgh
    Could assist him, and he died.

    And THE MORAL is: The piper
    Of the matter made a botch;
    One can hardly blame the viper
    If she took a nip of Scotch,
    For she only did what he did,
    And his nippie wasn't small,
    Otherwise, you see, he needed
    Not have seen the snake at all.

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Type of Poem: Fable

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a narrative ballad with a dash of humor and a dose of moral lesson. The central themes appear to be kindness, naivety, and the ironies of life. The poem's tone is light, despite its tragic end, which is a testament to the poet's ability to balance humor with weightier themes.

The poem utilizes a consistent rhyming scheme (ABAB) and a regular rhythm, which contribute to its musical and engaging quality. The character of the piper is built up through his actions and reactions, from his initial astonishment at the snake to his ultimately fatal display of compassion.

Interestingly, the poet uses direct quotes from Robert Burns, a revered Scottish poet, deepening the cultural context and enhancing the piper’s character as a representative Scot. The twist in the tale comes when the piper's kindness backfires, leading to his demise. In the final stanza, the poet cleverly conveys a moral lesson, using humor and irony to underscore the unpredictability of life and the potential dangers of naivety.

The poem is rich in imagery and metaphor, with the viper symbolizing danger and the piper representing innocent, albeit misguided, kindness. The poet's use of language is playful yet significant, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about the underlying messages of the poem.