By what serene malevolence of names
Had you the gift of yours, Theophilus?
Not even a smeared young Cyclops at his games
Would have you long,-and you are one of us.
Told of your deeds I shudder for your dream
And they, no doubt, are few and innocent.
Meanwhile, I marvel; for in you, it seems,
Heredity outshines environment.
What lingering bit of Belial, unforeseen,
Survives and amplifies itself in you?
What manner of devilry has ever been
That your obliquity may never do?
Humility befits a father’s eyes,
But not a friend of us would have him weep.
Admiring everything that lives and dies,
Theophilus, we like you best asleep.
Sleep-sleep; and let us find another man
To lend another name less hazardous:
Caligula, maybe, or Caliban,
Or Cain,-but surely not Theophilus.
(Edwin Arlington Robinson)
More Poetry from Edwin Arlington Robinson:
Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems based on Topics: Friendship, Name, Doubt & Skepticism, Charity, Fathers, Humility, Games, Environment- Mr. Flood's Party (Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems)
- Sonnet 32: The Children of the Night (Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems)
- Reuben Bright (Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems)
- Eros Turannos (Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems)
- For a Dead Lady (Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems)
- John Brown (Edwin Arlington Robinson Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Friendship Poems, Name Poems, Fathers Poems, Charity Poems, Doubt & Skepticism Poems, Humility Poems, Games Poems, Environment PoemsBased on Keywords: hazardous, unforeseen, outshines, belial, befits, cyclops, caliban, heredity, caligula, devilry, malevolence