Twelve snails went walking after night.

The youth played in the blear hotel.The rafters gleamed with glories strange.And winds of mourning ElsinoreHowling at chance and fate and change;Voices of old Europe’s deadDisturbed the new-built cattle-shed,The street, the high and solemn range.The while the coyote barked afarAll shadowy was the battlement.The ranch-boys huddled and grew pale,Youths who had come on riot bent.Forgot…

That Oxford rules the heart of London still,That Florence gave the Renaissance to Rome.Record it for the grandson of your son —A city is not builded in a day:Our little town cannot complete her soulTill countless generations pass away.Now let each child be joined as to a churchTo her perpetual hopes, each man ordained:Let every…

O, scribes who dare forget how wild we areHow human breasts adore alarum bells.You house us in a hive of prigs and saintsCommunal, frugal, clean and chaste by law.I’d rather brood in bloody ElsinoreOr be Lear’s fool, straw-crowned amid the straw.Promise us all our share in AgincourtSay that our clerks shall venture scorns and death,That…

Creeping into their cages.Here’s to the fairy mice that biteThe elephants fat and wise:Hidden in the hay-pile while the elephant thunder rages.Here’s to the scurrying, timid miceThrough whom the proud cause dies.Here’s to the seeming accidentWhen all is planned and working,All the flywheels turning,Not a vassal shirking.Here’s to the hidden tunneling thingThat brings the mountain’s…

Cherished the stranger softlySeeing his utter need.Shelter and patient hearing,These were their gifts to him,To the minstrel chanting, begging,As the sunset-fire grew dim.The rich said ‘you are welcome.’Yea, even the rich were good.How strange that in their feastingHis songs were understood!The doors of the poor were open,The poor who had wandered too,Who slept with never…

Would that the sword of Cromwell and the Lord,The sword of Joshua and Gideon,Hewed hip and thigh the hosts of Midian.God send that ironside ere tomorrow’s sun;Let Gabriel and Michael with him ride.God send the Regicide.