Great poems
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Riding the Thundering Horse
© Souster Raymond
To be told in print at age sixty-threethat you're not a poetbecause what you write aren't poems,isn't the help it might have beenat, say, twenty-three
Astrophel and Stella: Eight Song
© Sir Philip Sidney
In a groue most rich of shade,Where birds wanton musicke made,May then yong his pide weedes showing,New perfumed with flowers fresh growing, Astrophel with Stella sweete,Did for mutuall comfort meet,Both within themselues oppressed,But each in the other blessed
Astrophel and Stella: 107
© Sir Philip Sidney
Stella since thou so right a Princesse artOf all the powers which life bestowes on me,That ere by them ought vndertaken be,They first resort vnto that soueraigne part;Sweete for a while giue respite to my hart,Which pants as though it still should leape to thee:And on my thoughts giue my LieftenancyTo this great cause, which needs both vse and art
Astrophel and Stella: 83
© Sir Philip Sidney
Good brother Philip, I haue borne you long,I was content you should in fauour creepe,While craftily you seem'd your cut to keepe,As though that faire soft hand did you great wrong
Astrophel and Stella: 65
© Sir Philip Sidney
Loue by sure proofe I may call thee vnkind,That giu'st no better eare to my just cries:Thou whom to me such my good turnes should bind,As I may well recount, but none can prize:For when nak'd boy thou couldst no harbour findIn this old world, growne now so too too wise:I lodg'd thee in my heart, and being blindBy Nature borne, I gaue to thee mine eyes
Song of Solomon
© The Bible
22:001:004 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into
his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will
remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
Psalm 95:1-3; 6-8
© The Bible
O come let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker
Astrophel and Stella: 34
© Sir Philip Sidney
Come let me write, and to what end? to easeA burth'ned hart, how can words ease, which areThe glasses of thy dayly vexing care?Oft cruell sights well pictured foorth do please
Astrophel and Stella: 27
© Sir Philip Sidney
Because I oft in darke abstracted guise,Seeme most alone in greatest companieWith dearth of words, or answers quite awrie,To them that would make speech of speech arise,They deeme, and of their doome the rumour flies,That poyson foule of bubling pride doth lieSo in my swelling breast that onely IFawne on me selfe, and others do despise:Yet pride I thinke doth not my soule possesse,Which lookes too oft in his vnflattring glasse:But one worse fault Ambition I confesse,That makes me oft my best friends ouer-passe,Vnseene, vnheard, while thought to highest placeBends all his powers, euen vnto Stellas grace
Astrophel and Stella: 26
© Sir Philip Sidney
Though dustie wits dare scorne Astrologie,And foole can thinke those Lampes of purest light,Whose numbers weighs greatnesse eternitie,Promising wonders, wonder do invite:To haue for no cause birthright in the skie,But for to spangle the black weedes of night:Or for some brawle, which in that chamber hie,They should still daunce to please a gazers sight
Astrophel and Stella: 25
© Sir Philip Sidney
The wisest scholler of the weight most wise,By Phœbus doome, with sugred sentence sayes,That vertue if it once met with our eyes,Strange flames of Loue it in our soules would rayse
Astrophel and Stella: 21
© Sir Philip Sidney
Your words my friend (right healthfull caustiks) blameMy young mind marde, whom Loue doth windlas so,That mine owne writings like bad servants show,My wits, quick in vaine thoughts, in vertue lame:That Plato I reade for nought, but if he tameSuch coltish yeares, that to my birth I owNobler desires, least else that friendly foe,Great expectation, weare a traine of shame
Astrophel and Stella: 18
© Sir Philip Sidney
With what sharp checkes I in my selfe am shent,When into Reasons audite I do go:And by just counts my self a banckrout knowOf all those goods, which heau'n to me haue lent:Vnable quite to pay euen Natures rent,Which vnto it by birth-right I do ow:And which is worse, no good excuse can show,But that my wealth I haue most id'ly spent
