{"product_id":"the-task-a-poem","title":"The Task, A Poem","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-hveid=\"CAEIDRAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\"\u003eThe poem famously originated from a playful challenge by Cowper’s friend, Lady Austen, who urged him to write a blank-verse poem using a \u003cstrong class=\"rQesXe MPyX\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\"\u003esofa\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e as his starting subject. Composed of roughly 5,000 lines divided into \u003cstrong class=\"rQesXe MPyX\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\"\u003esix distinct books\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem class=\"zhvwWe\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\"\u003eThe Sofa, The Timepiece, The Garden, The Winter Evening, The Winter Morning Walk,\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem class=\"zhvwWe\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\"\u003eThe Winter Walk at Noon\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e), the work quickly expands from its humorous beginning into a sprawling meditation on the human condition.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-hveid=\"CAEIDhAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);\"\u003eCowper heavily contrasts the corruption, superficiality, and hectic nature of urban city life against the peace, mental clarity, and spiritual fulfillment found in rural seclusion. Throughout his fluid, conversational verses, he champions the simple Christian virtues of a contemplative life, treats nature as a mirror of divine creation, and delivers sharp social critiques. The poem includes impassioned arguments condemning slavery, blood sports, military corruption, and the moral complacency of the era's clergy. Mid-19th-century American printings by publishers like Phillips \u0026amp; Sampson helped cement Cowper's legacy in the United States as a primary precursor to the Romantic literary movement.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Cowper","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67590400737530,"sku":"NEI3\/27\/09272026","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0635\/3387\/5450\/files\/IMG_8226_030f168e-a975-41d8-8717-d11c492a7183.jpg?v=1790519233","url":"https:\/\/flippedpages.com\/products\/the-task-a-poem","provider":"Flipped Pages","version":"1.0","type":"link"}