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T.S. Eliot - The Hippopotamus

 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 kist,
While the True Church remains below
Wrapt in the old miasmal mist.

Added: on April 1st, 2007 at 10:15 PM | Viewed: 10548 times | Comments and analysis of The Hippopotamus by T.S. Eliot Comments (12)


The Hippopotamus - Comments and Information

Poet: T.S. Eliot
Poem: 8. The Hippopotamus
Volume: Poems
Year: Published/Written in 1920
Poem of the Day: Apr 2 2007

Comment 12 of 12, added on May 9th, 2007 at 9:51 AM.

definitly a poem open to interpretation. personally, i believe it revolves around the idea that the Church is not prejudice and welcomes all walks of life and is a very rewarding experience.

jackielee from Australia
Comment 11 of 12, added on April 5th, 2007 at 5:26 AM.

note that TS Eliot turned Anglican 10 yrs after this poem was published

Debbie from United States
Comment 10 of 12, added on April 1st, 2007 at 10:15 PM.

I believe the poem shows how, the hippo, any human, is frail and shall die, be forgotten, while ideas, in this case the Christian religion, is forever there,engraved, while the people who use it change. The last two stanzas give an interesting twist, that though humans are forgotten, they can break loose from humanity for that reason, allowing them to be then, above that idea, stuck below. maybe, just a thought.

human from United States

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