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At mating time the hippo’s voicebetrays inflexions hoarse and odd,but every week we hear rejoicethe Church, at being one with God. The hippopotamus’s dayis 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 wingascending from the damp savannas,and quiring ...
A summary of one of Eliot’s quatrain poems - by Dr Oliver Tearle ‘The Hippopotamus’ is one of T. S. Eliot’s quatrain poems, written just after the First World War and published in his 1919 volume, Poems. By turns comical and serious, sincere and playful, high satirical and almost nonsense-like, ‘The Hippopotamus’ shows a very….
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 ...
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.
Analysis (ai): This poem by T. S. Eliot presents a satirical comparison between the hippopotamus and the Christian Church. While the hippopotamus is depicted as weak, clumsy, and limited, the Church is portrayed as strong, stable, and divinely inspired.
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 ...
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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.
