
THE PLACID PUG
Original
BALLAD FOR BISHOPS
Original
SONG FOR VINTNERS
Original
HYMN FOR HUMBLE PEOPLE
Original
VERSICLES FOR VEGETARIANS
Original
The opening piece introduces a lethargic pug strolling through a park, a creature content with routine while distant sharks chase grander quests. Through clever meter and gentle irony, the poet contrasts the pug’s sleepy existence with imagined lives of more adventurous animals, inviting listeners to ponder the comfort of sameness. The tone is light‑hearted yet thoughtful, making the verse feel both amusing and oddly reflective.
Beyond the pug, the collection drifts into playful odes about bishops and rabbits, vintners and exotic beasts, each stanza turning ordinary observations into witty commentaries on society, ambition, and nature’s quirks. The poems rhyme with a musical quality that lends itself perfectly to audio, drawing listeners into a world where a lion sips lake water and a serpent guards its own dignity. Ideal for anyone who enjoys clever wordplay wrapped in rhythmic storytelling, this anthology offers a charming escape into a whimsical animal kingdom.
Language
en
Duration
~16 minutes (16K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by The Internet Archive
Release date
Apr 1, 2014
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1870–1945
Best remembered for his intense and fateful relationship with Oscar Wilde, this English poet also published verse, translated work, and spent decades trying to define his own literary identity. His life moved from Oxford glamour and scandal to religion, memoir, and late reflection.
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