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When wise Ulysses, from his native coast
Long kept by wars, and long by tempests toss'd,
Arrived at last, poor, old, disguised, alone,
To all his friends, and ev'n his Queen unknown,
Changed as he was, with age, and toils, and cares,
Furrow'd his rev'rend face, and white his hairs,
In his own palace forc'd to ask his bread,
Scorn'd by those slaves his former bounty fed,
Forgot of all his own domestic crew,
The faithful Dog alone his rightful master knew!
Unfed, unhous'd, neglected, on the clay
Like an old servant now cashier'd, he lay;
Touch'd with resentment of ungrateful man,
And longing to behold his ancient lord again.
Him when he saw he rose, and crawl'd to meet,
('Twas all he could) and fawn'd and kiss'd his feet,
Seiz'd with dumb joy; then falling by his side,
Own'd his returning lord, look'd up, and died!
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson, Poetry Connection. All Rights Reserved.
its suprising that there are no comments on this poem because if you are a poetry person its not hard to tell that this poem is full of didactic and ironic writing typical to alexander pope and the ways of greek playwrights of the late 17th and early 18th century. its kinda cool antually ill be the first to say something. well suppose ill write what its about from what i see. Argus the dog of Ulysses otherwise known as Odysseus stayed alive for all those years while Ulysses was gone and when he came home, even though disguised the dog still reconized him and finally he could die happy. possible theme: its possible to have happiness in death. death doesnt neccesarily have to be sad even though it comes to us all, an anti-existentialistic view if i ever saw one. if you me this poem makes you feel hopefull
phillip
phillip from United States