A Plea To Boys And GirlsRobert Graves
You learned Lear’sNonsense Rhymes by heart,
not rote;
You learned Pope’sIliad by rote, not heart;
These terms should be distinguished if you quote
My verses, children—keep them poles apart—
And call the man a liar who says I wrote
All that I wrote in love, for love of art.
小读者,请听我说罗伯特·格里夫斯
里尔写的《打油诗》,叫人一看就忘不掉,
蒲伯的名作《伊利亚特》,叫人一看就想睡觉;
小朋友,你要是将来引用我的诗,
一定记着这个“忘不掉”和“想睡觉”——它俩的差别太大啦——
对了,我写的东西发自内心,
谁要是说我炫耀智巧,小朋友你可别信他。