Leszko The Bastard poem – Alfred Austin

“Why do I bid the rising gale To waft me from your shore? Why hail I, as the vultures hail, The scent of far-off gore? Why wear I with defiant pride The Paynim’s badge and gear, Though I am vowed to Christ that died, And fain would staunch the gaping side That felt the […]

The Golden Age poem – Alfred Austin

Long ere the Muse the strenuous chords had swept, And the first lay as yet in silence slept, A Time there was which since has stirred the lyre To notes of wail and accents warm with fire; Moved the soft Mantuan to his silvery strain, And him who sobbed in pentametric pain; To which […]

The Evening Light poem – Alfred Austin

I Angels their silvery trumpets blow, At dawn, to greet the Morning Glow, And mortals lift adoring eyes To see the glorious sun arise. Then, winged by Faith, and spurred by Hope Youth scans the hill, youth scales the slope. Its pulses bound, its thoughts exult, It finds no danger difficult, Quickens its pace, […]

The Door Of Humility poem – Alfred Austin

ENGLAND We lead the blind by voice and hand, And not by light they cannot see; We are not framed to understand The How and Why of such as He; But natured only to rejoice At every sound or sign of hope, And, guided by the still small voice, In patience through the darkness […]

Pax Britannica poem – Alfred Austin

Behind her rolling ramparts England lay, Impregnable, and girt by cliff-built towers, Weaving to peace and plenty, day by day, The long-drawn hours. In peace Spring freed her flocks and showered her grain, Summer sate smiling under peaceful leaves, And Autumn piled on the unwarlike wain Her sickled sheaves. And white-winged keels flew fluttering […]

The Season poem – Alfred Austin

In honest times, when purer manners reigned, And Virtue never save by Vice was pained, The Poet’s pen might flagrant scandals call By manly names, the property of all, And, like the prophets bold of Sacred Writ, Discard the sleight of circumambient wit. Now, so corruptly chaste our ways are grown, E’en words, turned […]

The Old Land And The Young Land poem – Alfred Austin

The Young Land said, “I have borne it long, But can suffer it now no more; I must end this endless inhuman wrong Within hail of my own free shore. So fling out the war-flag’s folds, and let the righteous cannons roar!” ‘Twas a quick, rash word, for the strong Young Land Is a […]

The Human Tragedy ACT IV poem – Alfred Austin

Personages: Gilbert- Miriam- Olympia- Godfrid. Protagonists: Love- Religion- Patriotism- Humanity. Place: Rome-Paris. Time: August 1870 -Close of May1871 And Miriam’s prayer was heard. The hosts of France Low in the dust, low in dishonour, lay: Broken her tumbrils, blunted was her lance, And tinsel Empire vanished in a day. The serried tramp of men, […]

The Human Tragedy ACT III poem – Alfred Austin

Personages: Godfrid- Gilbert- Miriam- Olympia. Protagonists: Love- Religion- * Patriotism. Place: Capri-Mentana. Time: October-November 1867 The laggard Child of Liberty and Light, Long travailed by the centuries, now was born: She had put off the obloquy of night, And like a Goddess stood, facing the morn. Minerva’s self had not more full-grown might At […]

Leszko The Bastard poem – Alfred Austin

“Why do I bid the rising gale To waft me from your shore? Why hail I, as the vultures hail, The scent of far-off gore? Why wear I with defiant pride The Paynim’s badge and gear, Though I am vowed to Christ that died, And fain would staunch the gaping side That felt the […]

All Hail To The Czar! poem – Alfred Austin

All hail to the Czar! By the fringe of the foam That thunders, untamed, around Albion’s shore, See multitudes throng, dense as sea-birds whose home Is betwixt the deaf rocks and the ocean’s mad roar; And across the ridged waters stand straining their eyes For a glimpse of the Eagle that comes from afar: […]

A Tale Of True Love poem – Alfred Austin

Not in the mist of legendary ages, Which in sad moments men call long ago, And people with bards, heroes, saints, and sages, And virtues vanished, since we do not know, But here to-day wherein we all grow old, But only we, this Tale of True Love will be told. For Earth to tender […]

A Question Answered poem – Alfred Austin

I saw the lark at break of day Rise from its dewy bed, And, winged with melody, away Circle to Heaven o’erhead. I watched it higher and higher soar, Still ceasing not to trill, When, though I could descry no more Its flight, I heard it still. But shortly quavered back its note, And, […]

Reveille poem – A. E. Housman

Wake: the silver dusk returning Up the beach of darkness brims, And the ship of sunrise burning Strands upon the eastern rims. Wake: the vaulted shadow shatters, Trampled to the floor it spanned, And the tent of night in tatters Straws the sky-pavilioned land. Up, lad, up, ’tis late for lying: Hear the drums of […]

Oh, see how thick the goldcup flowers poem – A. E. Housman

Oh, see how thick the goldcup flowers Are lying in field and lane, With dandelions to tell the hours That never are told again. Oh may I squire you round the meads And pick you posies gay? –‘Twill do no harm to take my arm. ‘You may, young man, you may.’ Ah, spring was sent […]

Oh, see how thick the goldcup flowers poem – A. E. Housman

Oh, see how thick the goldcup flowers Are lying in field and lane, With dandelions to tell the hours That never are told again. Oh may I squire you round the meads And pick you posies gay? –‘Twill do no harm to take my arm. ‘You may, young man, you may.’ Ah, spring was sent […]

Millions of Us poem – Alice Notley

Purportedly a chain of civilians, soldiers, voices lice they were called. It is sometimes sufficient to beg Lice creeping over one, kill them with a chemical; then there are lice-ghosts everywhere. Glints of pearly nails. The light of my beloved will keep me from noticing. Trailer to keep her in; he asked me if I […]

Making The Lion For All It’s Got — A Ballad poem – Allen Ginsberg

I came home and found a lion in my room… [First draft of “The Lion for Real” CP 174-175] A lion met America in the road they stared at each other two figures on the crossroads in the desert. America screamed The lion roared They leaped at each other America desperate to win Fighting […]

Kraj Majales (King Of May) poem – Allen Ginsberg

And the Communists have nothing to offer but fat cheeks and eyeglasses and lying policemen and the Capitalists proffer Napalm and money in green suitcases to the Naked, and the Communists create heavy industry but the heart is also heavy and the beautiful engineers are all dead, the secret technicians conspire for their own […]

Kraj Majales (King Of May) poem – Allen Ginsberg

And the Communists have nothing to offer but fat cheeks and eyeglasses and lying policemen and the Capitalists proffer Napalm and money in green suitcases to the Naked, and the Communists create heavy industry but the heart is also heavy and the beautiful engineers are all dead, the secret technicians conspire for their own […]

Boris Godunov poem – Alexander Pushkin

A poem by Alexander Pushkin – Pouchkine, Pooshkin (1799-1837), in English translation A Drama in Verse DRAMATIS PERSONAE BORIS GODUNOV, afterwards Tsar. PRINCE SHUISKY, Russian noble. PRINCE VOROTINSKY, Russian noble. SHCHELKALOV, Russian Minister of State. FATHER PIMEN, an old monk and chronicler. GREGORY OTREPIEV, a young monk, afterwards the Pretender to the throne of […]

The Temple of Fame poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period In that soft season, when descending show’rs Call forth the greens, and wake the rising flow’rs; When op’ning buds salute the welcome day, And earth relenting feels the genial day, As balmy sleep had charm’d my cares to […]

The Messiah : A Sacred Eclogue poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period Ye nymphs of Solyma! begin the song, To heavenly themes sublimer strains belong. The mossy fountains, and the sylvan shades, The dreams of Pindus, and the Aonian maids, Delight no more – O thou, my voice inspire, Who […]

The Iliad: Book VI (excerpt) poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period He said, and pass’d with sad presaging heart To seek his spouse, his soul’s far dearer part; At home he sought her, but he sought in vain: She, with one maid of all her menial train, Had thence […]

The Dunciad: Book IV poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light Indulge, dread Chaos, and eternal Night! Of darkness visible so much be lent, As half to show, half veil, the deep intent. Ye pow’rs! whose mysteries restor’d I sing, […]

The Dunciad: Book III. poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period But in her Temple’s last recess inclos’d, On Dulness’ lap th’ Anointed head repos’d. Him close she curtains round with Vapours blue, And soft besprinkles with Cimmerian dew. Then raptures high the seat of Sense o’erflow, Which only […]

The Dunciad: Book II. poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period High on a gorgeous seat, that far out-shone Henley’s gilt tub, or Flecknoe’s Irish throne, Or that where on her Curlls the public pours, All-bounteous, fragrant grains and golden showers, Great Cibber sate: the proud Parnassian sneer, The […]

The Dunciad: Book I. poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period The Mighty Mother, and her son who brings The Smithfield muses to the ear of kings, I sing. Say you, her instruments the great! Called to this work by Dulness, Jove, and Fate; You by whose care, in […]

Sappho to Phaon (Ovid Heroid XV) poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period Say, lovely youth, that dost my heart command, Can Phaon’s eyes forget his Sappho’s hand? Must then her name the wretched writer prove, To thy remembrance lost, as to thy love? Ask not the cause that I new […]

Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period I. Descend ye Nine! descend and sing; The breathing instruments inspire, Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre! In a sadly-pleasing strain Let the warbling lute complain: Let the loud trumpet sound, ‘Till the […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 5 poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period She said: the pitying audience melt in tears, But Fate and Jove had stopp’d the Baron’s ears. In vain Thalestris with reproach assails, For who can move when fair Belinda fails? Not half so fix’d the Trojan could remain, […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 3 poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period Close by those meads, for ever crown’d with flow’rs, Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow’rs, There stands a structure of majestic frame, Which from the neighb’ring Hampton takes its name. Here Britain’s statesmen oft the fall foredoom […]

The Rape of the Lock poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period Part 1 WHAT dire Offence from am’rous Causes springs, What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things, I sing — This Verse to C—, Muse! is due; This, ev’n Belinda may vouchfafe to view: Slight is the Subject, but […]

The Iliad: Book VI (excerpt) poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period He said, and pass’d with sad presaging heart To seek his spouse, his soul’s far dearer part; At home he sought her, but he sought in vain: She, with one maid of all her menial train, Had thence retir’d; […]

Essay on Man poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period The First Epistle Awake, my ST. JOHN!(1) leave all meaner things To low ambition, and the pride of Kings. Let us (since Life can little more supply Than just to look about us and to die) Expatiate(2) free […]

An Essay on Man in Four Epistles: Epistle 1 poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period To Henry St. John, Lord Bolingbroke Awake, my St. John! leave all meaner things To low ambition, and the pride of kings. Let us (since life can little more supply Than just to look about us and to die) […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 3 poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Close by those meads, for ever crown’d with flow’rs, Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow’rs, There stands a structure of majestic frame, Which from the neighb’ring Hampton takes its name. Here Britain’s statesmen oft the fall foredoom Of foreign tyrants and of nymphs at home; Here thou, […]

The Rape of the Lock poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Part 1 WHAT dire Offence from am’rous Causes springs, What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things, I sing — This Verse to C—, Muse! is due; This, ev’n Belinda may vouchfafe to view: Slight is the Subject, but not so the Praise, If She inspire, and He approve […]

The Iliad: Book VI (excerpt) poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) He said, and pass’d with sad presaging heart To seek his spouse, his soul’s far dearer part; At home he sought her, but he sought in vain: She, with one maid of all her menial train, Had thence retir’d; and, with her second joy, The young Astyanax, the hope […]

The Temple of Fame poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) In that soft season, when descending show’rs Call forth the greens, and wake the rising flow’rs; When op’ning buds salute the welcome day, And earth relenting feels the genial day, As balmy sleep had charm’d my cares to rest, And love itself was banish’d from my breast, (What […]