All Poems

The Second Madrigal

© Anna Swirszczynska

A night of love with you,
a big baroque battle
and two victories.

Haymakers, Rakers, Reapers, And Mowers

© Thomas Dekker

Haymakers, rakers, reapers, and mowers,

  Wait upon your summer queen.

Native Companions Dancing

© John Shaw Neilson

On the blue plains in wintry days
  The stately birds move in the dance.
Keen eyes have they, and quaint old ways

Purpose

© Edgar Albert Guest

Not for the sake of the gold,
Not for the sake of the fame,
Not for the prize would I hold
Any ambition or aim:
I would be brave and be true
Just for the good I can do.

Things Of Clay

© Gamaliel Bradford

Sing a little, play a little,
Laugh a little; for
Life is so extremely brittle,
Who would think of more?

Myrtilla

© Washington Allston

"Ah me! how sad," Myrtilla cried,
 "To waste alone my years!"
While o'er a streamlet's flow'ry side
She pensive hung, and watch'd the tide
 That dimpled with her tears.

Crouchin’ On The Outside

© Sheldon Allan Silverstein

One two three four five six seven eight hey baby you're a little too late
I'm standin' on the outside lookin' in at you on the inside
Lookin' out at me on the outside lookin' in
Through the window of my madness at a place I never been

Strife and Peace

© Jean Ingelow

The yellow poplar-leaves came down
  And like a carpet lay,
No waftings were in the sunny air
  To flutter them away;
And he stepped on blithe and debonair
  That warm October day.

Lament for Chaucer

© Thomas Hoccleve

ALLAS! my worthi maister honorable,

This landes verray tresor and richesse!

Auri Sacra Fames

© George Essex Evans

Gone are the mists of old in the light of the larger day!
Gone is the foolish hope, the trust in a Power above!
Science has swept the heavens and brushed religion away!
What need we hope or fear? Warfare is clothed like Love!
Priestcraft is but a trade—souls can be bought and sold!
Why should we seek for a god—now that our god is Gold?

The Dead Beggar

© Charlotte Turner Smith

AN ELEGY.
Addressed to a Lady, who was affected at seeing the
Funeral of a nameless Pauper, buried at the ex-
pense of the Parish, in the Church-Yard at Bright-

Twenty-One Love Poems IV

© Adrienne Rich

A Worn Rose

© Lola Ridge

Where to-day would a dainty buyer

Imbibe your scented juice,

The Meaning Of Life

© Allen Tate

A Monologue

Think about it at will: there is that

Good-Bye, And Keep Cold

© Robert Frost

This saying good-bye on the edge of the dark

  And cold to an orchard so young in the bark

Shine, Republic

© Robinson Jeffers

The quality of these trees, green height; of the sky, shining, of
water, a clear flow; of the rock, hardness
And reticence: each is noble in its quality. The love of freedom
has been the quality of Western man.

The Last Lap

© Rudyard Kipling

How do we know, by the bank-high river,

 Where the mired and sulky oxen wait,

Who Says Words With My Mouth?

© Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

The Little Rose Is Dust, My Dear

© Grace Hazard Conkling

The little rose is dust, my dear;
The elfin wind is gone
That sang a song of silver words
And cooled our hearts with dawn.

Evening In Summer

© James Thomson

Confess'd from yonder slow-extinguish'd clouds,
All ether softening, sober Evening takes
Her wonted station in the middle air;
She sends on earth; then that of deeper dye