I ne’er could be entirely fond

O what may be my chances, say,Of living all my life?‘For lately I have dreamed of highAnd hempen dissolution!O doctor, doctor, how can IAmend my constitution?’The learned leech replied: ‘You’re youngAnd beautiful and strongPermit me to inspect your tongue:H’m, ah, ahem!-’tis long.’

Lived like a fool, or a philosopher,And had whatever’s needful to a fall.As rough inflections on a planet mergeIn the true bend of the gigantic sphere,Nor mar the perfect circle of its verge,So in the survey of his worth the smallAsperities of spirit disappear,Lost in the grander curves of character.He lately was hit hard; none…

I hear their singing, clear and strong,I see their banners in the West!The captains shout the battle-cry,The legions muster in their might;They turn their faces to the light,They lift their arms, they testify:‘We sank beneath the Master’s thong,Our chafing chains were ne’er undone;Now clash your lances in the sunAnd bless your banners with a song!‘God…

Be it mine once more the maunderings to traceOf the expounders’ self-directed raceTheir wire-drawn fancies, finically fine,Of diligent vacuity the sign.Let them in jargon of their trade rehearseThe moral meaning of the random verseThat runs spontaneous from the poet’s penTo be half-blotted by ambitious menWho hope with his their meaner names to linkBy writing o’er…

With a gown which, modestly fitting before,Was greatly puffed up behind.The bustle she wore was ingeniously plannedWith an inspiration bright:It magnified seven diameters andWas remarkably nice and light.It was made of rubber and edged with laceAnd riveted all with brass,And the whole immense interior spaceInflated with hydrogen gas.The ladies all said when she hove in…

For two decades he’d gorged his brainWith more than it could well contain,In order to relieve the stressHe took to writing for the press.Then Pondronummus said, ‘I’ll helpThis mine of talent to devel’p;’And straightway bought with coin and creditThe _Thundergust_ for him to edit.The great man seized the pen and inkAnd wrote so hard he…