Pansies (Lawrence)/Finding Your Level
FINDING YOUR LEVEL
Down, down, down!
There must be a nadir somewhere
of superiority.
Down, and still
the superior persons, though somewhat inferior,
are still superior.
There must be a nadir somewhere
of superiority.
Down, and still
the superior persons, though somewhat inferior,
are still superior.
They are still superior, so there must be something they are superior to.
There must be a bed-rock somewhere, of people who are not superior,
one must come down to terra firma somewhere!
There must be a bed-rock somewhere, of people who are not superior,
one must come down to terra firma somewhere!
Or must one simply say:
All my inferiors are very superior.
All my inferiors are very superior.
There has been great progress
in superiority.
in superiority.
Fortunately though, some superior persons are still superior
to the quite superior persons who are not so superior as they are.
to the quite superior persons who are not so superior as they are.
May I ask if you are really superior
or if you only look it so wonderfully?
Because we English do appreciate a real gentleman, or a real lady;
but appearances are deceptive nowadays, aren't they?
or if you only look it so wonderfully?
Because we English do appreciate a real gentleman, or a real lady;
but appearances are deceptive nowadays, aren't they?
And if you only look so distinguished and superior
when really you are slightly inferior,
like a shop-lady or a lady-secretary,
you mustn't expect, my dear, to get away with it.
There's a list kept of the truly superior
and if you're not on the list, why there you are, my dear,
you're off it.
There are great numbers of quite superior persons who are not on the list,
poor things—but we can't help that, can we!
We must draw a line somewhere
or we should never know when we were crossing the equator.
when really you are slightly inferior,
like a shop-lady or a lady-secretary,
you mustn't expect, my dear, to get away with it.
There's a list kept of the truly superior
and if you're not on the list, why there you are, my dear,
you're off it.
There are great numbers of quite superior persons who are not on the list,
poor things—but we can't help that, can we!
We must draw a line somewhere
or we should never know when we were crossing the equator.
What is man, that thou art mindful of him,
or the son of man, that thou pitiest him?
for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels
who are very superior people,
Oh very!
or the son of man, that thou pitiest him?
for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels
who are very superior people,
Oh very!