Author: Guy Wetmore Carryl

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    A raven sat upon a tree,
    And not a word he spoke, for
    His beak contained a piece of Brie,
    Or, maybe, it was Roquefort:
    We'll make it any kind you please--
    At all events, it was a cheese.

    Beneath the tree's umbrageous limb
    A hungry fox sat smiling;
    He saw the raven watching him,
    And spoke in words beguiling.
    "J'admire," said he, "ton beau plumage."
    (The which was simply persiflage.)

    Two things there are, no doubt you know,
    To which a fox is used:
    A rooster that is bound to crow,
    A crow that's bound to roost,
    And whichsoever he espies
    He tells the most unblushing lies.

    "Sweet fowl," he said, "I understand
    You're more than merely natty,
    I hear you sing to beat the band
    And Adelina Patti.
    Pray render with your liquid tongue
    A bit from 'Gotterdammerung.'"

    This subtle speech was aimed to please
    The crow, and it succeeded:
    He thought no bird in all the trees
    Could sing as well as he did.
    In flattery completely doused,
    He gave the "Jewel Song" from "Faust."

    But gravitation's law, of course,
    As Isaac Newton showed it,
    Exerted on the cheese its force,
    And elsewhere soon bestowed it.
    In fact, there is no need to tell
    What happened when to earth it fell.

    I blush to add that when the bird
    Took in the situation
    He said one brief, emphatic word,
    Unfit for publication.
    The fox was greatly startled, but
    He only sighed and answered "Tut."

    THE MORAL is: A fox is bound
    To be a shameless sinner.
    And also: When the cheese comes round
    You know it's after dinner.
    But (what is only known to few)
    The fox is after dinner, too.

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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: The poem is a lively and humorous narrative that uses anthropomorphized animals to convey a moral message. Drawing from the tradition of Aesop's fables, the poem tells a tale of a cunning fox and a vain raven, emphasizing themes of deceit and vanity. The tone of the poem is light-hearted and satirical, creating an engaging experience for the reader.

The poem uses a consistent rhyme scheme and regular meter, making it a pleasure to read aloud. The use of anthropomorphism allows the poet to explore human vices through the characters of the fox and the raven. The fox symbolizes cunning and deceit, while the raven represents vanity and pride. A noteworthy literary device is the use of French phrases, adding an element of sophistication to the fox's deceiving flattery. The use of humor is also significant, as it makes the moral message more palatable and memorable. The poem ends on a light note, reminding the reader that while dinner might be over, the fox's cunning isn't. This clever twist leaves the reader with a lasting impression, emphasizing the timeless relevance of the poem's moral lessons.