A Criticism Of Critics Poem by Robert Fuller Murray

A Criticism Of Critics

Rating: 2.7


How often have the critics, trained
To look upon the sky
Through telescopes securely chained,
Forgot the naked eye.

Within the compass of their glass
Each smallest star they knew,
And not a meteor could pass
But they were looking through.

When a new planet shed its rays
Beyond their field of vision,
And simple folk ran out to gaze,
They laughed in high derision.

They railed upon the senseless throng
Who cheered the brave new light.
And yet the learned men were wrong,
The simple folk were right.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 21 February 2017

Poetry is an individual communication not a group sport. Each reader's response is as valuable as the next. The learned man's response is as true and valuable as the uneducated man's. We write to communicate.

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Douglas Scotney 09 January 2017

brilliant analogy...

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Tim Derkmerklerkherk 10 February 2015

And yet the learned men were wrong, The simple folk were right. very blunt conclusion, this poem is very straightforward but this unmask it to the point of just being an upfront statement. what makes the learned men wrong? and why would they laugh at a new planet? have you ever heard of planetary criticism? is the solar system an art? this to-the-point metaphor is nonsensical at best. if they knew each smallest star and have access to see all things in the sky, then why is the new planet beyond their vision? also, a new planet does not shine rays and is invisible to the naked eye as a new planet would not be able to just appear haphazardly. stars are not planets.

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Tim Derkmerklerkherk 10 February 2015

And yet the learned men were wrong, The simple folk were right. very blunt conclusion, this poem is very straightforward but you feel the need to unmask it to the point of just being an upfront statement. what makes the learned men wrong? and why would they laugh at a new planet? have you ever heard of planetary criticism? is the solar system an art? this to-the-point metaphor is nonsensical at best. if they knew each smallest star and have access to see all things in the sky, then why is the new planet beyond their vision? also, a new planet does not shine rays and is invisible to the naked eye as a new planet would not be able to just appear haphazardly. stars are not planets.

0 2 Reply
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