John Crowe Ransom, "Survey of Literature", in Selected Poems (New York: Knopf, 1963), p. 81
“
I dip my hat to Chaucer, Swilling soup from his saucer,And to Master Shakespeare Who wrote big on small beer.The abstemious Wordsworth Subsisted on a curd’s-worth,But a slick one was Tennyson, Putting gravy on his venison. ...The influence of Milton Came wry out of Stilton.Sing a song for Percy Shelley, Drowned in pale lemon jelly,And for precious John Keats, Dripping blood of pickled beets.Then there was poor Willie Blake, He foundered on sweet cake.
— John Crowe Ransom on English literature
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I dip my hat to Chaucer, Swilling soup from his saucer,And to Master Shakespeare Who wrote big on small beer.The abstemious Wordsworth Subsisted on a curd’s-worth,But a slick one was Tennyson, Putting gravy on his venison. ...The influence of Milton Came wry out of Stilton.Sing a song for Percy Shelley, Drowned in pale lemon jelly,And for precious John Keats, Dripping blood of pickled beets.Then there was poor Willie Blake, He foundered on sweet cake." in the context of "John Crowe Ransom, "Survey of Literature", in Selected Poems (New York: Knopf, 1963), p. 81" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "English literature" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About John Crowe Ransom
John Crowe Ransom (April 30, 1888 – July 3, 1974) was a southern American poet, essayist and academic. He was prominent among the Fugitives, the Southern Agrarians and the American exponents of the New Criticism.
About John Crowe Ransom
John Crowe Ransom (April 30, 1888 – July 3, 1974) was a southern American poet, essayist and academic. He was prominent among the Fugitives, the Southern Agrarians and the American exponents of the New Criticism.
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