Thick and scented daisies spreadWhere with surface dull like leadArabian pools of slime inviteManticors down from neighbouring heightTo dip heads, to cool fiery bloodIn oozy depths of sucking mud.Sing then of ringstraked manticor,Man-visaged tiger who of yoreHeld whole Arabian waste in feeWith raging pride from sea to sea,That every lesser tribe would flyThose armed feet,…
A sabre sweep had hacked him deepTwixt neck and shoulderknot….The potman cannot well recall,The ostler never knew,Whether his day was Malplaquet,The Boyne or Waterloo.But there he hangs for tavern sign,With foolish bold regardFor cock and hen and loitering menAnd wagons down the yard.Raised high above the hayseed worldHe smokes his painted pipe,And now surveys the…
With harsh dress hissing like a flock of geese,With garish flowers?Why do you churn smooth waters rough again,Selfish old skin-and-bone?Leave us to quiet dreaming and slow pain,Leave us alone.
An ugly man, a tall man,With bright-red hair.The books that he’s writtenNo one can read.“In fifty years they’ll understand:Now there’s no need.“All that matters nowIs getting the fun.Come along, Ben and Claire;Plenty to be done.”Then old Philosopher,Wisest man alive,Plays at Lions and TigersDown along the drive—Gambolling fiercelyThrough bushes and grass,Making monstrous mouths,Braying like an assTwisting…
That herewith startsAbout certain kind heartsIn those stricken partsThat lie behind Calais,Old crones and aged menAnd young children.About the Picardais,Who earned my thousand thanks,Dwellers by the banksOf mournful Somme(God keep me therefromUntil War ends)–These, then, are my friends:Madame Averlant Lune,From the town of Bethune;Good Professeur la BruneFrom that town also.He played the piccolo,And left his…
Out between the lines he wentTo that one-sided tournament,A shepherd boy who stood out fineAnd young to fight a PhilistineClad all in brazen mail. He swearsThat he’s killed lions, he’s killed bears,And those that scorn the God of ZionShall perish so like bear or lion.But … the historian of that fightHad not the heart to…
Seven courses, the most gorgeous mealMoney could buy or batman steal.Five hungry lads welcomed the fishWith shouts that nearly cracked the dish;Asparagus came with tender tops,Strawberries in cream, and mutton chops.Said Jenkins, as my hand he shook,“They’ll put this in the history book.”We bawled Church anthems in choroOf Bethlehem and Hermon snow,With drinking songs, a…
Nor as in Zion think of meWith the Intolerable Good.And there’s one thing that I know well,I’m damned if I’ll be damned to Hell!So when I’m killed, don’t wait for me,Walking the dim corridor;In Heaven or Hell, don’t wait for me,Or you must wait for evermore.You’ll find me buried, living-deadIn these verses that you’ve read.So…
The hunter to the husbandmanPays tribute since our love began,And to love-loyalty dedicatesThe phantom kills he meditates.Let me embrace, embracing you,Beauty of other shape and hue,Odd glinting graces of which noneShone more than candle to your sun;Your well-kissed hand was beckoning meIn unfamiliar imagery.Smile your forgiveness: each bright ghostDives in love’s glory and is lostYielding…
What have you brought for Nancy?’Edward‘A rope of pearls and a gold earring,And a bird of the East that will not sing.A carven tooth, a box with a key–‘Nancy‘God be praised you are back,’ says she,‘Have you nothing more for your Nancy?’Edward‘Long as I sailed the Indian SeaI gathered all for your fancy:Toys and silk…
