by Ernest Jones Chartist leader and poet, 1819-1869; sentenced in 1848 to two years’ imprisonment. We plow and sow — we’re so very, very low That we delve in the dirty clay, ‘Till we bless the plain — with the golden grain, And the vale with the fragrant hay. Our place we know — we’reContinue reading “The Song of the Classes”
Tag Archives: Poem
The Poison Tree
by William Blake I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, and it did grow. And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft, deceitful wiles. AndContinue reading “The Poison Tree”
Fire and Ice
by Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire; Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate, To say that for destruction ice is also great And would suffice.
A Death Song
by William Morris What cometh here from east to west awending? And who are these, the marchers stern and slow? We bear the message that the rich are sending Aback to those who bade them wake or know. Not one, not one, nor thousands must they slay, But one and all if they must duskContinue reading “A Death Song”
My Boy Jack
by Rudyard Kipling “Have you news of my boy Jack?” Not this tide. “When do you think that he’ll come back?” Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. “Has any one else had word of him?” Not this tide. For what is sunk will hardly swim, Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.Continue reading “My Boy Jack”
Bright Star
by John Keats Bright star, were I as stedfast as thou art — Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night And watching, with eternal lids apart, Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite, The moving waters at their priestlike task, Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores, Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask Of snowContinue reading “Bright Star”
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 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”
Robin's Nest 