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Famous Approbation Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Approbation poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous approbation poems. These examples illustrate what a famous approbation poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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by Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
...trip me up :
I 'll have no traffic with the personal thought
In art's pure temple. Must I work in vain,
Without the approbation of a man ?
It cannot be ; it shall not. Fame itself,
That approbation of the general race,
Presents a poor end, (though the arrow speed,
Shot straight with vigorous finger to the white,)
And the highest fame was never reached except
By what was aimed above it. Art for art,
And good for God Himself, the essential Good !
We 'll keep our aim...Read more of this...



by McGonagall, William Topaz
...sport,
As one of the crew, during the French War in that station,
And for personal courage he soon gained his Captain's approbation. 

'Twas in the spring of 1717, Captajn Harnigold and Teach sailed from Providence
For the continent of America, and no further hence;
And in their way captured a vessel laden with flour,
Which they put on board their own vessels in the space of an hour. 

They also seized two other vessels snd took some gallons of wine,
Besides plunder t...Read more of this...

by Smart, Christopher
...in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite an...Read more of this...

by Smart, Christopher
...in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can sit up with gravity, which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick, which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite a...Read more of this...

by Pound, Ezra
...been
Of precisely the fashion
To stimulate, in her,
A durable passion;

Doubtful, somewhat, of the value
Of well-gowned approbation
Of literary effort,
But never of The Lady Valentine's vocation:

Poetry, her border of ideas,
The edge, uncertain, but a means of blending
With other strata
Where the lower and higher have ending;

A hook to catch the Lady Jane's attention,
A modulation toward the theatre,
Also, in the case of revolution,
A possible friend and comforter.

* *...Read more of this...



by Alighieri, Dante
..., whereat 
 My watchful Master thrust him down, and cried, 
 "Away, among the dogs, thy fellows!" and then 
 To me with approbation, "Blest art thou, 
 Who wouldst not pity in thy heart allow 
 For these, in arrogance of empty pride 
 Who lived so vainly. In the minds of men 
 Is no good thing of this one left to tell, 
 And hence his rage. How many above that dwell, 
 Now kinglike in their ways, at last shall lie 
 Wallowing in these wide marshes, swine in sty, 
 Wit...Read more of this...

by Smart, Christopher
...in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite an...Read more of this...

by Smart, Christopher
...usick. 

For he is docile and can learn certain things. 

For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation. 

For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment. 

For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive. 

For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command. 

For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom. 

For he can catch the cork and toss it again. 

For he is hated by the ...Read more of this...

by Milton, John
...ise
Are few, and glory scarce of few is raised.
This is true glory and renown—when God, 
Looking on the Earth, with approbation marks
The just man, and divulges him through Heaven
To all his Angels, who with true applause
Recount his praises. Thus he did to Job,
When, to extend his fame through Heaven and Earth,
As thou to thy reproach may'st well remember,
He asked thee, 'Hast thou seen my servant Job?'
Famous he was in Heaven; on Earth less known,
Where glory is fal...Read more of this...

by Service, Robert William
...of dying. 

'Tis plain, I mused, the more I sin,
(To Satan's jubilation)
When I repent the more I'll win
Celestial approbation. 

So still I sin, and though I fail
To get snow-whitely shriven,
My timing's good: I home to hail
The last bus up to heaven....Read more of this...

by Schiller, Friedrich von
...se praise can glory lend her;--
Within the coach, on board the boat,
Let every pedant "take a note;"
Endure, for public approbation,
Each critic's "close investigation,"
And brave--nay, court it as a flattery--
Each spectacled Philistine's battery.
Just as it suits some scurvy carcase
In which she hails an Aristarchus,
Ready to fly with kindred souls,
O'er blooming flowers or burning coals,
To fame or shame, to shrine or gallows,
Let him but lead--sublimely callous!
A Lei...Read more of this...

by McGonagall, William Topaz
...Prince Albert Victor and Prince George received a naval education.
Which met with the Prince of Wales' roost hearty approbation. 

'Twas in the year 1877 he married the Lady Ada Louisa Bennett,
And by marrying that noble lady he ne'er did regret;
And he was ever ready to give his service in any way,
Most willingly and cheerfully by night or by day. 

'Twas in the year of 1887, and on Thursday the 1st of December,
Which his relatives and friends will long remember
...Read more of this...

by Service, Robert William
...at see you in the dying year?

And so from face to face I flit,
 The countless eyes that stare and stare;
Some are with approbation lit,
 And some are shadowed with despair.
Some show a smile and some a frown;
 Some joy and hope, some pain and woe:
Enough! Oh, ring the curtain down!
 Old weary year! it's time to go.

My pipe is out, my glass is dry;
 My fire is almost ashes too;
But once again, before you go,
 And I prepare to meet the New:
Old Year! a parting word th...Read more of this...

by Smart, Christopher
...nd wenches, 
Who came to hiss, and break the benches. 
The mimic took his usual station, 
And squeak'd with general approbation. 
"Again, encore! encore!" they cry-- 
'Twas quite the thing--'twas very high; 
Old Grouse conceal'd, amidst the racket, 
A real Pig berneath his jacket-- 
Then forth he came--and with his nail 
He pinch'd the urchin by the tail. 
The tortur'd Pig from out his throat, 
Produc'd the genuine nat'ral note. 
All bellow'd out--"'Twas very ...Read more of this...

by Cowper, William
...of a minstrel's lyre,
To charm his ear whose eye is on the heart;
Whose frown can disappoint the proudest strain,
Whose approbation--prosper ev'n mine....Read more of this...

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