john 2 on Distant

John Dryden (1631–1700), an English critic and poet laureate, often skipped classes at Westminster School in London and rarely prepared his lessons. One day, when tasked with writing a poem on the gospel story of Jesus turning water into wine, Dryden quickly scribbled:

“The modest water, awed by power divine, / Beheld its God, and blushed itself to wine.”

This succinct couplet stood out among his classmates’ efforts and earned Dryden praise from the master, who saw it as a glimpse of his future poetic talent.