by Roger McGough ‘twould be nice to be an apostrophe floating above an s hovering like a paper kite in between the its eavesdropping, tiptoeing high above the thats an inky comet spiralling the highest tossed of hats
Category Archives: poetry
Where Once The Waters Of Your Face
by Dylan Thomas Where once the waters of your face Sound to my screws, your dry ghost blows, The dead turns up its eye; Where once the mermen through your ice Pushed up their hair, the dry wind steers Through salt and root and roe. Where once your green knots sank their splice Into theContinue reading “Where Once The Waters Of Your Face”
A Man’s A Man for A’that
by Robert Burns Is there for honest poverty That hings his head and a’that; The coward slave – we pass him by, We dare be poor for a’that! For a’that, an a’that. Our toils obscure an a’that, The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, The man’s the gowd for a’that. What though on hamely fareContinue reading “A Man’s A Man for A’that”
The Kangaroo and the Duck
by Edward Lear Said the Duck to the Kangaroo, ‘Good gracious! how you hop! Over the fields and the water too, As if you would never stop! My life is a bore in this nasty pond, And I long to go out in the world beyond! I wish I could go out like you,’ SaidContinue reading “The Kangaroo and the Duck”
The Little Match Girl
by KNIGHT OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT OF BURMAH WILLIAM MCGONAGALL It was biting cold, and the falling snow, Which filled a poor little match girl’s heart with woe, Who was bareheaded and barefooted, as she went along the street, Crying: “Who’ll buy my matches? for I want pennies to buy some meat!” When she leftContinue reading “The Little Match Girl”
Behind the Scenes
by Banjo Paterson The actor struts his little hour, Between the limelight and the band; The public feel the actor’s power, Yet nothing do they understand. Of all the touches here and there That make or mar the actor’s part, They never see, beneath the glare, The artist striving after art. To them it seemsContinue reading “Behind the Scenes”
The Vixen
by John Clare Among the taller woods with ivy hung, The old fox plays and dances round her young. She snuffs and barks if any passes by And swings her tail and turns prepared to fly. The horseman hurries by, she bolts to see, And turns agen, from danger never free. If any stands sheContinue reading “The Vixen”
Lady Midnight
by Leonard Cohen I came by myself to a very crowded place. I was looking for someone who had lines in her face. I found her there, but she was past all concern. I asked her to hold me; I said: Lady, unfold me, but she scorned me and told me I was dead andContinue reading “Lady Midnight”
The Ballad of Rudolph Reed
by Gwendolyn Brooks Rudolph Reed was oaken. His wife was oaken too. And his two good girls and his good little man Oakened as they grew. ‘I am not hungry for berries. I am not hungry for bread. But hungry, hungry for a house Where at night a man in bed ‘May never hear theContinue reading “The Ballad of Rudolph Reed”
Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll ‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. ‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the JubJub bird, and shun, The frumious Bandersnatch! He took his vorpal sword in hand;Continue reading “Jabberwocky”
Robin's Nest 