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: Canto 2 poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Not with more glories, in th’ etherial plain, The sun first rises o’er the purpled main, Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams Launch’d on the bosom of the silver Thames. Fair nymphs, and well-dress’d youths around her shone, But ev’ry eye was fix’d on her alone. On […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 1 poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos; Sedjuvat, hoc precibus me tribuisse tuis. (Martial, Epigrams 12.84) What dire offence from am’rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things, I sing–This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due: This, ev’n Belinda may vouchsafe to view: Slight is the subject, but not […]

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 Dying Christian to His Soul poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Vital spark of heav’nly flame! Quit, O quit this mortal frame: Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying, O the pain, the bliss of dying! Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life. Hark! they whisper; angels say, Sister Spirit, come away! What is this absorbs me […]

The Three Gentle Shepherds poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Of gentle Philips will I ever sing, With gentle Philips shall the valleys ring. My numbers too for ever will I vary, With gentle Budgell and with gentle Carey. Or if in ranging of the names I judge ill, With gentle Carey and with gentle Budgell: Oh! may […]

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 […]

The Messiah : A Sacred Eclogue poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) 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 touched Isaiah’s hallowed lips with fire! Rapt into future times […]

The Looking-Glass. : on Mrs. Pulteney poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) With scornful mien, and various toss of air, Fantastic vain, and insolently fair, Grandeur intoxicates her giddy brain, She looks ambition, and she moves disdain. Far other carriage grac’d her virgin life, But charming G–y’s lost in P–y’s wife. Not greater arrogance in him we find, And this […]

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 […]

The Dying Christian to His Soul poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Vital spark of heav’nly flame! Quit, O quit this mortal frame: Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying, O the pain, the bliss of dying! Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life. Hark! they whisper; angels say, Sister Spirit, come away! What is this absorbs me […]

The Dunciad: Book IV poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) 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, To whom time bears me on his rapid wing, Suspend […]

The Dunciad: Book III. poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) 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 heads refin’d from Reason know. Hence, from the straw where […]

The Dunciad: Book II. poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) 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 conscious simper, and the jealous leer, Mix on his look: […]

The Dunciad: Book I. poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) 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 vain decried and cursed, Still Dunce the second reigns like […]

The Basset-Table : An Eclogue poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Cardelia. Smilinda. Cardelia. The Basset-Table spread, the Tallier come; Why stays Smilinda in the Dressing-Room? Rise, pensive Nymph, the Tallier waits for you: Smilinda. Ah, Madam, since my Sharper is untrue, I joyless make my once ador’d Alpeu. I saw him stand behind Ombrelia’s Chair, And whisper with […]

Summer poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) See what delights in sylvan scenes appear! Descending Gods have found Elysium here. In woods bright Venus with Adonis stray’d, And chaste Diana haunts the forest shade. Come lovely nymph, and bless the silent hours, When swains from shearing seek their nightly bow’rs; When weary reapers quit the sultry […]

Sound And Sense poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. ‘Tis not enough no harshness gives offense, The sound must seem an echo to the sense: Soft is the strain when Zephyr gently blows, And the smooth stream in smoother numbers […]

Song, by a Person of Quality poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) I. Flutt’ring spread thy purple Pinions, Gentle Cupid, o’er my Heart; I a Slave in thy Dominions; Nature must give Way to Art. II. Mild Arcadians, ever blooming, Nightly nodding o’er your Flocks, See my weary Days consuming, All beneath yon flow’ry Rocks. III. Thus the Cyprian Goddess […]

Solitude: An Ode poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) I. How happy he, who free from care The rage of courts, and noise of towns; Contented breaths his native air, In his own grounds. II. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread, Whose flocks supply him with attire, Whose trees in summer yield him shade, In […]

Solitude poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Happy the man, whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air In his own ground. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread, Whose flocks supply him with attire; Whose trees in summer yield shade, In winter, fire. Blest, who […]

On a certain Lady at Court poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) I know the thing that’s most uncommon; (Envy be silent and attend!) I know a Reasonable Woman, Handsome and witty, yet a Friend. Not warp’d by Passion, aw’d by Rumour, Not grave thro’ Pride, or gay thro’ Folly, An equal Mixture of good Humour, And sensible soft Melancholy. […]

On Mr. Gay poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit, a Man; Simplicity, a Child: With native Humour temp’ring virtuous Rage, Form’d to delight at once and lash the age: Above Temptation, in a low Estate, 5 And uncorrupted, ev’n among the Great: A safe Companion, and an easy Friend, […]

On His Grotto at Twickenham poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Thou who shalt stop, where Thames’ translucent wave Shines a broad Mirror thro’ the shadowy Cave; Where ling’ring drops from min’ral Roofs distill, And pointed Crystals break the sparkling Rill, Unpolish’d Gems no ray on Pride bestow, And latent Metals innocently glow. Approach! Great Nature studiously behold; And […]

On Certain Ladies poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) When other fair ones to the shades go down, Still Chloe, Flavin, Delia, stay in town: Those ghosts of beauty wandering here reside, And haunt the places where their honour died. Poetry Monster – Home A few random poems:   External links […]

On a Certain Lady at Court poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) I know a thing that’s most uncommon; (Envy, be silent and attend!) I know a reasonable Woman, Handsome and witty, yet a Friend. Not warp’d by Passion, awed by Rumour; Not grave through Pride, nor gay through Folly, An equal Mixture of good Humour And sensible soft Melancholy. […]

Ode on Solitude poem – Alexander Pope poems | Poetry Monster

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Happy the man, whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air, In his own ground. Whose heards with milk, whose fields with bread, Whose flocks supply him with attire, Whose trees in summer yield him shade, In winter fire. Blest! […]