The poem ‘Persicos Odi’, by the poet William Makepeace Thackeray is a beautiful portrayal of a simple but sophisticated life. In this poem, the British novelist has put up the true essence of life in a flamboyant style.

Summary of Persicos Odi

In this poem, the poet celebrated the simplicity of life throughout and wants to enjoy his life without any luxury. At the beginning of the poem, we find the poet asking someone named Lucy, to stay away from making any of those fancy French dishes.

He told her, he doesn’t need those luxurious entrees on his table. Because he thinks those dishes are not meant for a simple man like him.

“Dear Lucy, you know what my wish is, —
I hate all your Frenchified fuss:
Your silly entrées and made dishes
Were never intended for us.”

The poet doesn’t need the comfort of a footman in his everyday life. He is happy in his armchair. This simplicity gives his life the true meaning and he is able to enjoy the comfort of his simple, sophisticated life.

“No footman in lace and in ruffles
Need dangle behind my arm-chair;”

Truffles, a rare kind of mushroom doesn’t fancy the poet. They can be hard to get by but they don’t have any place in his simple lifestyle. He doesn’t want any hint of luxury in his day-to-day life.

“And never mind seeking for truffles,
Although they be ever so rare.”

In the second stanza, the poet addresses his needs. He only wants a juicy piece of mutton to be ready at his table at three. That juicy, tender, succulent meat will be sufficient to meet his daily needs.

“But a plain leg of mutton, my Lucy,
I pr’ythee get ready at three:
Have it smoking, and tender, and juicy,
And what better meat can here be?”

And he also thinks that a regular piece of juicy meat meeting his needs, will also be sufficient to meet his maid’s needs. He wants her also to suffuse her hunger with that without making a fuss.

“And when it has feasted the master,
‘Twill amply suffice for the maid;”

And when the maid will suffuse her hunger he wants to relax, lit his cigar, and drink his alcohol under a shade. He wants a relaxing peaceful life without any fuss of modern-day extravaganza.

“Meanwhile I will smoke my canaster,
And tipple my ale in the shade.”

Persicos Odi Theme

In the poem ‘Persicos Odi’, the poet William Makepeace Thackeray celebrated the simplicity of life. In the first stanza, he states that he doesn’t have any intention to indulge in a luxurious lifestyle.

He thinks life should be content with the simple things. In the second stanza, the poet told us about his needs. He just wants a simple life to lead.

Persicos Odi Analysis

Thackeray sees the simplicity in life through this poem. He realized what is the difference between necessity and luxury.

Those French dishes and truffles symbolize the luxurious lifestyle, which the poet detested. He wanted to live a simple life without any luxury in it.

He doesn’t want to eat those dishes that he can’t even pronounce. He is satisfied with a piece of juicy mutton, his canaster, and his ale. He sees simplicity as the greatest sophistication, and he wants to follow it in his life.

Persicos Odi Literary devices

In the poem ‘Persicos Odi’, the poet William Makepeace Thackeray used the rhyme scheme of ‘ababcdcd’.

He also used syncope like ‘‘Twill’, and ‘pr’ythee’ that means writing a word using apostrophes. Here ’twill is a word used with an apostrophe.

He has also used symbolism in this poem. ‘Frenchified fuss’ symbolizes the luxurious, flamboyant lifestyle. And ‘a plain leg of mutton’ symbolizes a simple, non-extravagant lifestyle.

These are the main literary device of the poem that makes the poem more attractive to the readers.