Classic Poem

In the cream gilded cabin of his steam yacht
Mr. Nixon advised me kindly, to advance with fewer
Dangers of delay. " Consider
" Carefully the reviewer.

" I was as poor as you are;
" When I began I got, of course,
" Advance on royalties, fifty at first, " said Mr. Nixon,
" Follow me, and take a column,
" Even if you have to work free.

" Butter reviewers. From fifty to three hundred
" I rose in eighteen months;
" The hardest nut I had to crack
" Was Dr. Dundas.

" I never mentioned a man but with the view
" Of selling my own works.
" The tip's a good one, as for literature
" It gives no man a sinecure.
" And no one knows, at sight, a masterpiece.
" And give up verse, my boy,
" There's nothing in it. "

****** * * *

Likewise a friend of Blougram's once advised me:
Don't kick against the pricks,
Accept opinion. The " Nineties " tried your game
And died, there's nothing in it.