William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth26 November 1731
enthusiast half mankind till wild
No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest, till half of mankind were, like himself, possest
doth next ride
Now let us sing, Long live the king, / And Gilpin, long live he; / And when he next doth ride abroad, / May I be there to see!
blood church dear dying god lose precious shall sin thy
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its powerTill all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
busy dreams frames god himself works
The busy trifler dreams himself alone, / Frames many a purpose, and God works his own.
hat neck
Away went Gilpin, neck or naught, / Away went hat and wig!
crew land royal shook
A land-breeze shook the shrouds, / And she was overset; / Down went the Royal George, / With all her crew complete.
beneath clear leads life noise pearl turbulence wisdom wise
A life all turbulence and noise may seem,To him that leads it, wise and to be praised;But wisdom is a pearl with most successSought in still water, and beneath clear skies.
smith
And the first smith was the first murderer's son.
both goes stands useless wants watch
An idler is a watch that wants both hands, As useless if it goes as if it stands
heart honest warm
An honest man, close-buttoned to the chin,/ Broadcloth without, and a warm heart within.
creator worships yes
A self-made man? Yes - and worships his creator
pleasure poetic poets
There is a pleasure in poetic painsWhich only poets know.
cool farewell sound whispering
The poplars are felled, farewell to the shade,/ And the whispering sound of the cool colonnade!
caesar knew posterity regions shall thy
Regions Caesar never knew / Thy posterity shall sway.