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Welcome to the Kilkenny
International Swift Society website. The society aims to promote contemporary
social and political commentary through poetical satire in the spirit
of Jonathan Swift.
NEWS
Interest in political satire is increasing. See this article
in the Guardian as a sample.
Guardian UK article on political satire May 2008
"Seeking
21st century poetic satire. Never was there an age riper for poisonous
pens. Please sharpen yours"
Posted by
Billy Mills Friday May 2 2008 15:30 BST
NEW SATIRE COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL
by 'The Boyne Writers Group'
to commemorate Jonathan Swift
Details and competition
rules at www.boynewriters.com/swift.html,
QUERIES & COMMENTS
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Conferences (Listed by BSECS)
Associations/Societies:
International Association
for the Study of Irish Literatures
British Association of Irish Studies
International
Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
Eighteenth-Century Ireland
Society
British Society for Eighteenth
Century Studies
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- See Swift's Complete
Works Prose
and Poetry
available for download as ebooks from this site
Epitaph of Swift:
"The body of Jonathan Swift, Doctor of Sacred Theology, dean of this
cathedral church, is buried here, where fierce indignation can no more
lacerate his heart. Go, traveler, and imitate, if you can, one who strived
with all his strength to champion liberty"
SPONSORS
We would like to sincerely thank
our sponsors, including the Kilkenny County Council for their support
of the 2007 Swift Satire Poetry Competition.
If any other sponsors would
like to support the competition please contact geninfo@swiftsociety.com
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ON THE FIVE SENSES
All of us in one you'll
find,
Brethren of a wondrous kind;
Yet among us all no brother
Knows one tittle of the other;
We in frequent councils are,
And our marks of things declare,
Where, to us unknown, a clerk
Sits, and takes them in the dark.
He's the register of all
In our ken, both great and small;
By us forms his laws and rules,
He's our master, we his tools;
Yet we can with greatest ease
Turn and wind him where we please.
One of us alone can sleep,
Yet no watch the rest will keep,
But the moment that he closes,
Every brother else reposes.
If wine's brought or victuals drest,
One enjoys them for the rest.
Pierce us all with wounding steel,
One for all of us will feel.
Though ten thousand cannons roar,
A dd to them ten
thousand more,
Yet but one of us is found
Who regards the dreadful sound.
Do what is not fit to tell,
There's but one of us can smell. |
