Never heard of James Henry, what a treat! And those last words! I ended up reading this post twice, thank you for an enjoyable read along with my first coffee this morning!
Jul 17Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum, Joseph Bottum
Amusing light verse on a light matter of how easy pigeons have it. After a quick first reading, I thought Henry had missed the work of carrier for which many pigeons have been employed. But then I reread it and noticed, "And by the telegraph and penny-post Released for ever from all charge of letters." Maybe not forever though, since carrier pigeons continued to be used past his era.
Jul 17Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum, Joseph Bottum
That one was a surprising pleasure. Having recently been to the American Pigeon Museum (yes, it exists! in Oklahoma City), I can counter that after Henry’s time the pigeon rose to new heights as an entertainer and later as an Allied advocate. Not bad for a bird of lazy and self-satisfied repute.
Jul 17Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum, Joseph Bottum
I love the title of the poem. It strikes me as a joke in itself. That may be because I noticed it as the subject in my email early this morning, without having time yet to go read the post. So, on my morning walk, listening to the other birds, I could ponder the question: By what mistake were pigeons? :-)
Is his commentary on Virgil available?
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Aeneidea_Or_Critical_Exegetical_and_Aest/7uopAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP9&printsec=frontcover
Thank you
Never heard of James Henry, what a treat! And those last words! I ended up reading this post twice, thank you for an enjoyable read along with my first coffee this morning!
Amusing light verse on a light matter of how easy pigeons have it. After a quick first reading, I thought Henry had missed the work of carrier for which many pigeons have been employed. But then I reread it and noticed, "And by the telegraph and penny-post Released for ever from all charge of letters." Maybe not forever though, since carrier pigeons continued to be used past his era.
That one was a surprising pleasure. Having recently been to the American Pigeon Museum (yes, it exists! in Oklahoma City), I can counter that after Henry’s time the pigeon rose to new heights as an entertainer and later as an Allied advocate. Not bad for a bird of lazy and self-satisfied repute.
I love the title of the poem. It strikes me as a joke in itself. That may be because I noticed it as the subject in my email early this morning, without having time yet to go read the post. So, on my morning walk, listening to the other birds, I could ponder the question: By what mistake were pigeons? :-)
Thanks for introducing me to the poet James Henry!
I like the poem quite well, but I think the author could’ve been pretty dire to spend time with, constantly telling really bad dad jokes.