Geological Poems. 27T 



A POETICAL GEOGNOSY. 



When Nature was young, and Earth in her prime, 



All the Rocks were invited with Neptune to dine. 



On his green bed of state he was i;racefully seated, 



And each as they enter'd was civilly greeted. 



But in choosing their seats, some confusion arose, 5 



Much jostling and scrambling, and treading on toes ; 



Till with some dislocations, and many wry faces, 



They at length became quiet, and kept their own places. 



Reveal, heavenly Muse, for I know thou art able, 



How each guest in succession was ranged at the table ; 10 



How the dinner was served, and the name of each dish, 



Whether Nautilite, Ammonite, tortoise, or fish. 



First Granite* sat down, and then beckon'd his queen, 

 But Gneiss^ stepp'd in rudely, and elbow'd between. 

 Pushing Mica-slate^* further; when she with a frown 

 Cried, " You crusty, distorted, and hump-back'd old clown !" 16 

 But this was all sham, — for to tell you the truth. 

 They had been the most intimate friends from her youth. 

 But let scandal cease. See the whole tribe of Slates 

 All eager and ready to rush to their plates ; 20 



Oh heav'ns ! how the family pour in by dozens, 

 Of .brothers, and sisters, and nephews, and cousins*! 

 Th^elder-born Limestones ran in between these, — 

 They were very well known to be fond of a squeeze. 

 Now, before we proceed with our story, it meet is 25 



That we bint at th' amours of Calcium and Thetis : 

 But the tale shall be short. 'Tis agreed by the sages, 

 Hence sprang all the limestones of different ages : 

 The oldest look'd white^ ; and no wonder she should, 

 She had never once dined upon animal food. 30 



1 See Granitogony and Geological Cookery. 



2 Gneiss. — This rock is composed of the same minerals as Granite, but 

 it has a slaty structure ; its beds are often much distorted, and intermixed 

 with Mica-slate, 



3 Mica-slate. — A shining shistose rock, composed principally of Mica and 

 Quartz. 



4 Among Slate Rocks we may enumerate, as the principal. Clay-slate, of 

 which Roofing-slate is a variety ; Talc-slate, or Chlorite-slate ; Hornblende- 

 slate ; Flinty-slate ; Drawing-slate : Whetstone-slate ; Porphyritic-slate ; 

 and Alum-slate. 



5 The oldest Limestone, or White Statuary Marble, contains no remains 

 whatever of marine or other animals. 



Vol. v.— No. 2. 36 



