Poetry · Chapter
Lines on A. B. explained
A humorous poem recalling a banquet given by the Odd Fellows in London nearly thirty years ago, where a brother aggressively asks the speaker about the whereabouts of Brother Abel, and the speaker deflects with a playful biblical reference.
What happens
A humorous poem recalling a banquet given by the Odd Fellows in London nearly thirty years ago, where a brother aggressively asks the speaker about the whereabouts of Brother Abel, and the speaker deflects with a playful biblical reference.
Themes in this chapter
Community and Social Gatherings
The poem centers on a banquet hosted by the Odd Fellows, highlighting fraternal social life.
Characters to notice
- James McIntyre
Speaker and poet attending the Odd Fellows banquet.
Key passages
“A brother looked at me as though I had been Cain, And in a voice of thunder, as I sat at the table, He fiercely asked of me 'where is your Brother Abel?'”
A fellow member stared at me accusingly and loudly demanded to know where Brother Abel was.
Biblical allusion to Cain and Abel used for humorous effect.
“To which I did reply 'I'm not my brother's keeper, But at home you'll find him, in his bed asleep, sir.'”
I answered that I was not responsible for him, but that he was at home sleeping.
Deflection of responsibility with a witty retort.