The Porcupine

The Porcupine - meaning Summary

Grudges and Comic Revenge

This short comic poem depicts the mutual consequences of provocation between a porcupine and a hound. The speaker argues that a dog which nudges a porcupine cannot fairly be blamed for holding a grudge. The final image—of a hound that mocked the porcupine but then suffered from a splinter—turns the idea into a wry moral about actions and retribution, delivered with light irony and humor.