TO A CRITIC

How sayest thou that I am no poet?
But what standard dost thou judge?
Art thou more competent than they
Who express pleasure at my verse?
Is there not little of similarity
And less of identity betwixt
The writers of ancient, medieval
And modern times?
By what standard then dost thou
Measure my effort?

I have a two-fold purpose when writing:
First, the pleasure of expressing
Fine shades of thought on paper
Second, the pleasure my friends,
Derive from the reading.
If thou dost not care to partake
Of the thot which I set to rhythm
It is well that thou forbear to read
And so spare both thee and me~
Seek thy favorite and be content.

^© O. E. Enfield