Fables

Altho’ you live aloft so far,

Transcendent Goddess, in your star,

Pray, try to see us as we are.

Consider—and be more forgiving—

Life is not reasoning but believing,

And we must work to get our living.

Expound with logic most exact

And rightly marshal every fact—

D’you think we thank you for your act?

D’you think we’ve nothing else to do

But to distinguish false from true?—

We’re lawyers, doctors, parsons too.

But for our little fond delusions

We’d never come to our conclusions,

And then—just think of the confusions!

You pain us when you contradict.

Your presence would the less afflict

If you were not so very strict.

Dear Lady, take this sober view,

It matters little what is true—

The world is not the place for you.

I rede you therefore, go away;

Or, if you really mean to stay,

Let’s hear your views another day.