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Mariott Posted 15 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

Meaning

Thou wast a bauble once; a cup and ball,
Which babes might play with...
.....

Time was, when settling on thy leaf a fly
Could shake thee to the root, and time has been
When tempests could not...

It's a poem written by William Couwper.
Not easy to understand especailly the second paragragh.
Could you anyone explain the second paragragh in plain English please!
  

Top answer

I do not have the complete poem to read, so I may be missing something. However, here is a simple translation of the poem. The first stanza says: You were once a toy that babies might play with.

— Doctor D

  • I do not have the complete poem to read, so I may be missing something.
  • However, here is a simple translation of the poem.
  • The first stanza says: You were once a toy that babies might play with.
  • The second stanza says: Once upon a time, the slightest event (a fly landing on a leaf) could shake you to your core (the root).
  • Yet, at other times, a great event (a storm) could not shake you at all.
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2 Answers
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I do not have the complete poem to read, so I may be missing something. However, here is a simple translation of the poem.

The first stanza says:
You were once a toy that babies might play with.

The second stanza says:

Once upon a time, the slightest event (a fly landing on a leaf) could shake you to your core (the root). Yet, at oth
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Thank you so much Doctor D. It helped a lot!!!
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