Now, joy is born of parents poor,
And pleasure of our richer kind;
Though pleasure’s free, she cannot sing
As sweet a song as joy confined.
Pleasure’s a Moth, that sleeps by day
And dances by false glare at night;
But Joy’s a Butterfly, that loves
To spread its wings in Nature’s light.
Joy’s like a Bee that gently sucks
Away on blossoms its sweet hour;
But pleasure’s like a greedy Wasp,
That plums and cherries would devour.
Joy’s like a Lark that lives alone,
Whose ties are very strong, though few;
But Pleasure like a Cuckoo roams,
Makes much acquaintance, no friends true.
Joy from her heart doth sing at home,
With little care if others hear;
But pleasure then is cold and dumb,
And sings and laughs with strangers near.
(William Henry Davies)
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Based on Topics: Night Poems, Light Poems, Nature Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Home Poems, Pleasure Poems, Parents Poems, Greed Poems, Butterflies PoemsBased on Keywords: strangers, lark, glare, richer, dances, moth, ties, confined, cuckoo, cherries, devour