The Seer
By C. J. Dennis
Somewhere or other, 'tis doubtful where,
In the archives of Gosh is a volume rare,
A precious old classic that nobody reads,
And nobody asks for, and nobody heeds;
Which makes it a classic, and famed thro' the land,
As well-informed persons will quite understand.
'Tis a ponderous work, and 'tis written in prose,
For some mystical reason that nobody knows;
And it tells in a style that is terse and correct
Of the rule of the Swanks and its baneful effect
On the commerce of Gosh, on its morals and trade;
And it quotes a grave prophecy somebody made.
And this is the prophecy, written right bold
On a parchment all tattered and yellow and old;
So old and so tattered that nobody knows
How far into foretime its origin goes.
But this is the writing that set Glugs agog
When 'twas called to their minds by the Mayor of Quog:
When Gosh groaneth bastlie thro Greed and bys plannes
Ye rimer shall mende ye who mendes pottes and pans.
Now, the Mayor of Quog, a small suburb of Gosh,
Was intensely annoyed at the act of King Splosh
In asking the Mayor of Piphel to tea
With himself and the Queen on a Thursday at three;
When the King must have known that the sorriest dog,
If a native of Piphel, was hated in Quog.
An act without precedent! Quog was ignored!
The Mayor and Council and Charity Board,
They met and considered this insult to Quog;
And they said, " 'Tis the work of the treacherous Og!
'Tis plain the Og influence threatens the Throne;
And the Swanks are all crazed with this trading in stone."
Said the Mayor of Quog: "This has long been foretold
In a prophecy penned by the Seer of old.
We must search, if we'd banish the curse of our time,
For a mender of pots who's a maker of rhyme.
'Tis to him we must look when our luck goes amiss.
But, Oh, where in all Gosh is a Glug such as this?"
Then the Mayor and Council and Charity Board
O'er the archival prophecy zealously pored,
With a pursing of lips and a shaking of heads,
With a searching and prying for possible threads
That would lead to discover this versatile Glug
Who modelled a rhyme while he mended a mug.
With a pursing of lips and a shaking of heads,
They gave up the task and went home to their beds,
Where each lay awake while he tortured his brain
For a key to the riddle, but ever in vain . . .
Then, lo, at the Mayor's front door in the morn
A tinker called out, and a Movement was born.
"Kettles and pans! Kettles and pans!
Oh, the stars are the gods'; but the earth, it is man's.
But a fool is the man who has wants without end,
While the tinker's content with a kettle to mend.
For a tinker owns naught but the earth, which is man's.
Then, bring out your kettles! Ho, kettles and pans!"
From the mayoral bed with unmayoral cries
The magistrate sprang ere he'd opened his eyes.
"Hold him!" he yelled, as he bounced on the floor.
"Oh, who is this tinker that rhymes at my door?
Go get me the name and the title of him 1"
They answered. "Be calm, sir. 'Tis no one but Sym.
'Tis Sym, the mad tinker, the son of old Joi,
Who ran from his home when a bit of a boy.
He went for a tramp, tho' 'tis common belief,
When folk were not looking he went for a thief;
Then went for a tinker, and rhymes as he goes.
Some say he's crazy, but nobody knows."
'Twas thus it began, the exalting of Sym,
And the mad Gluggish struggle that raged around him.
For the good Mayor seized him, and clothed him in silk,
And fed him on pumpkins and pasteurised milk,
And praised him in public, and coupled his name
With Gosh's vague prophet of archival fame.
The Press interviewed him a great many times,
And printed his portrait, and published his rhymes;
Till the King and Sir Stodge and the Swanks grew afraid
Of his fame 'mid the Glugs and the trouble it made.
For, wherever Sym went in the city of Gosh,
There were cheers for the tinker, and hoots for King Splosh.
His goings and comings were watched for and cheered;
And a crowd quickly gathered where'er he appeared.
All the folk flocked around him and shouted his praise;
For the Glugs followed fashion, and Sym was a craze.
They sued him for words, which they greeted with cheers,
For the way with a Glug is to tickle his ears.
"0, speak to us, Tinker! Your wisdom we crave!"
They'd cry when they saw him; then Sym would look grave,
And remark, with an air, "'Tis a very fine day."
"Now ain't he a marvel?" they'd shout. "Hip, Hooray!"
"To live," would Sym answer, "To live is to feel!"
"And ain't he a poet?" a fat Glug would squeal.
Sym had a quaint fancy in phrase and in text;
When he'd fed them with one they would howl for the next.
Thus he'd cry, "Love is love 1" and the welkin they'd lift
With their shouts of surprise at his wonderful gift.
He would say "After life, then a Glug must meet death!"
And they'd clamour for more ere he took the next breath.
But Sym grew aweary of this sort of praise,
And he longed to be back with his out-o'-door days,
With his feet in the grass and his back to a tree,
Rhyming and tinkering, fameless and free.
He said so one day to the Mayor of Quog,
And declared he'd as lief live the life of a dog.
But the Mayor was vexed; for the Movement had grown,
And his dreams had of late soared as high as a throne.
"Have a care! What is written is written," said he.
"And the dullest Glug knows what is written must be.
'Tis the prophet of Gosh who has prophesied it;
And 'tis thus that 'tis written by him who so writ:
"'Lo, the Tinker of Gosh he shall make him three rhymes:
One on the errors and aims of his times,
One on the symptoms of sin that he sees,
And the third and the last on whatever he please.
And when the Glugs hear them and mark what they mean
The land shall be purged and the nation made clean."'
So Sym gave a promise to write then and there
Three rhymes to be read in the Great Market Square
To all Glugs assembled on Saturday week.
"And then," said the Mayor, "if still you must seek
To return to your tramping, well, just have your fling;
But I'll make you a marquis, or any old thing . . ."
Said Sym, "I shall tinker, and still be a king."
Poem Analysis:
C.J. Dennis’s poem The Seer is a satirical exploration of societal values, political corruption, and human nature, presented through the fictional world of Gosh and its inhabitants, the Glugs. The poem's allegorical narrative and clever use of language critique the dynamics of power, blind conformity, and the superficial pursuit of wisdom.
Themes
- Conformity and the Folly of Popular Opinion: The Glugs are characterized as followers of trends without critical thought. Sym, the tinker and poet, becomes an accidental hero, not because of his wisdom or abilities, but because the Glugs crave a figure to idolize. This reflects the human tendency to celebrate individuals not for their intrinsic value but as a result of societal whims. Lines such as, “The way with a Glug is to tickle his ears” illustrate how easily the masses can be swayed by empty yet appealing rhetoric.
- Power and Political Intrigue: The narrative underscores how leaders manipulate prophecies and public sentiment for political gain. The Mayor of Quog uses Sym to further his own ambitions, leveraging the prophecy as a tool to consolidate influence. This dynamic critiques the self-serving nature of political actors who exploit culture and tradition for personal power.
- Individualism vs. Societal Expectations: Sym’s dissatisfaction with his fame reflects a deeper conflict between individual desires and societal pressures. Despite being elevated by the Glugs, Sym longs for the simplicity of his former life, stating, “I shall tinker, and still be a king.” This highlights the value of personal authenticity over imposed roles.
- Prophecy and Interpretation: The Seer’s cryptic prophecy drives much of the action, symbolizing the human tendency to imbue ambiguous statements with grandiose meaning. The Glugs, led by their leaders, interpret the prophecy to suit their agenda, reflecting how people often use mysticism or tradition to justify decisions.
Structure and Style
- Narrative Format: The poem unfolds as a satirical allegory, combining humor and absurdity to mask its sharp social critique. The fictional world of Gosh and the Glugs serves as a microcosm of society, making the poem both timeless and universal in its application.
- Language and Tone: Dennis employs a mock-serious tone, imbuing the text with a blend of irony and wit. For instance, the prophecy itself—“When Gosh groaneth bastlie thro Greed and bys plannes / Ye rimer shall mende ye who mendes pottes and pans”—is deliberately archaic and convoluted, poking fun at the reverence given to such texts despite their lack of clarity.
- Repetition and Rhyme: The rhythmic flow of the poem enhances its humor while reinforcing the cyclical nature of the Glugs’ foolishness. Phrases like “Kettles and pans! Kettles and pans!” emphasize the absurdity of Sym’s rise to fame through trivial acts.
Symbolism
- The Glugs: The Glugs symbolize humanity at its most gullible and trend-driven. Their blind worship of Sym and uncritical acceptance of the prophecy reflect societal tendencies to elevate individuals or ideas without scrutiny.
- Sym the Tinker: Sym represents the reluctant hero or outsider, a figure of authenticity in a world driven by artifice. His role as a mender of pots and a maker of rhymes symbolizes the union of practical skill and creative insight, qualities undervalued by the materialistic Glugs.
- The Prophecy: The Seer’s prophecy is a critique of how societies interpret and misuse knowledge or tradition. Its vague and archaic phrasing allows for manipulation, illustrating how truth can be distorted by those in power.
Critical Perspective
Dennis’s critique of societal and political dynamics in The Seer resonates with contemporary audiences. The poem satirizes not only the gullibility of the masses but also the cynical exploitation of culture by those in authority. It challenges readers to question the nature of leadership, the validity of traditions, and the cost of conformity.
Through the character of Sym, Dennis celebrates individualism and creative expression, advocating for a return to simplicity and authenticity in a world overwhelmed by greed and pretension. The poem’s humor, though lighthearted on the surface, masks a profound and sobering message about human nature and the pitfalls of unchecked power and blind faith.
C.J. Dennis’s The Seer is a masterful blend of humor, satire, and social commentary. Its allegorical narrative, coupled with its sharp critique of political manipulation and societal conformity, makes it a timeless reflection on human behavior. Through its memorable characters and engaging style, the poem invites readers to ponder the value of wisdom, the dangers of blind faith, and the enduring importance of individual authenticity.