title: Old Dobbin
author: Clement Clarke Moore
date: pub. 1844
source: Poems (New York: Bartlett & Welford, 1844), pp. 103-104; scan https://archive.org/details/poemsmoor00moorrich (leaves n118 ff.)
form: iambic tetrameter triplets with refrain ('Old Dobbin.')
lines: 28
attribution: certain
notes: Comic. Seven triplets each followed by the refrain 'Old Dobbin.' (28 lines including refrains, 21 without). The refrain lines are kept and counted. TOC page reference (104) is wrong; the poem begins on p. 103. Heading as printed: 'OLD DOBBIN.'.

Oh Muse! I feel my genius rise
On soaring pinions to the skies.
Whom shall I sing? The Muse replies—
Old Dobbin.

Come then, sweet Goddess, come, I pray,
Assist me with responsive lay,
To all I sing you need but say
Old Dobbin.

Who, in this world of varying ill,
Keeps on his even tenor still,
Nor fails his duty to fulfil?
Old Dobbin.

Who, while with passions men are blind,
Ne'er lets impatience stir his mind,
But jogs on steady, slow and kind?
Old Dobbin.

Who, ne'er for taunt nor scoff will budge,
But goes along with easy trudge,
As grave and solemn as a judge?
Old Dobbin.

Who like a Stoick, scorns disgrace,
Nor e'er exults in pride of place,
But does each task with equal grace?
Old Dobbin.

Who then, celestial Muse, may claim
The high reward of spotless fame,
The glory of a deathless name?
Old Dobbin.