The Hippopotamus Poem by T. S. Eliot
Poetry from Poems by T. S. Eliot.
T. S. Eliot – The Hippopotamus Poem
Similiter et omnes revereantur Diaconos, ut
mandatum Jesu Christi; et Episcopum, ut Jesum
Christum, existentem filium Patris; Presbyteros
autem, ut concilium Dei et conjunctionem
Apostolorum. Sine his Ecclesia non vocatur; de
quibus suadeo vos sic habeo.S. IGNATII AD TRALLIANOS.
And when this epistle is read among you, cause
that it be read also in the church of the
Laodiceans.
The broad-backed hippopotamus
Rests on his belly in the mud;
Although he seems so firm to us
He is merely flesh and blood.
Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail,
Susceptible to nervous shock;
While the True Church can never fail
For it is based upon a rock.
The hippo’s feeble steps may err
In compassing material ends,
While the True Church need never stir
To gather in its dividends.
The ‘potamus can never reach
The mango on the mango-tree;
But fruits of pomegranate and peach
Refresh the Church from over sea.
At mating time the hippo’s voice
Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd,
But every week we hear rejoice
The Church, at being one with God.
The hippopotamus’s day
Is passed in sleep; at night he hunts;
God works in a mysterious way-
The Church can sleep and feed at once.
I saw the ‘potamus take wing
Ascending from the damp savannas,
And quiring angels round him sing
The praise of God, in loud hosannas.
Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean
And him shall heavenly arms enfold,
Among the saints he shall be seen
Performing on a harp of gold.
He shall be washed as white as snow,
By all the martyr’d virgins kiss,
While the True Church remains below
Wrapt in the old miasmal mist.
The Hippopotamus Poem
T. S. Eliot – Gerontion Poem
T. S. Eliot – Burbank with a Baedeker : Bleistein with a Cigar Poem
T. S. Eliot – Sweeney Erect Poem
T. S. Eliot – A Cooking Egg Poem
T. S. Eliot – Le Directeur Poem
T. S. Eliot – Mélange adultère de tout Poem
T. S. Eliot – Lune de Miel Poem
T. S. Eliot – The Hippopotamus Poem
T. S. Eliot – Dans le Restaurant Poem
T. S. Eliot – Whispers of Immortality Poem
T. S. Eliot – Mr. Eliot’s Sunday Morning Service Poem
T. S. Eliot – Sweeney Among the Nightingales Poem
T. S. Eliot – The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Poem
T. S. Eliot – Portrait of a Lady Poem
T. S. Eliot – Preludes Poem
T. S. Eliot – Rhapsody on a Windy Night Poem
T. S. Eliot – Morning at the Window Poem
T. S. Eliot – The Boston Evening Transcript Poem
T. S. Eliot – Aunt Helen Poem
T. S. Eliot – Cousin Nancy Poem
T. S. Eliot – Mr. Apollinax Poem
T. S. Eliot – Hysteria Poem
T. S. Eliot – Conversation Galante Poem
T. S. Eliot – La Figlia Che Pianga Poem
