Short Poems

Some promises are broke as soon as made
& silent Love is sweet thats never spoken
The church yard grass looks pleasant where the maid
Looked Love in smiles in Memorys pleasing Token.

The chelping Sparrows little pilfering thieve[s]
Fly from the wheat & hide in hedge row leaves

When reason & religion goes a benting
Christianity grows lean as specters — and
Pines off to somthing else — none seem repenting
But each get notions none else understand
Wives from their husbands pare off unrelenting
& like pined piegons mope about the land
Couple's awake go silently & dreaming
& love & faith & madness are but seeming.

Beautiful gravel walks overgrown
with moss & grass little places where
the poet sat to write.

What happy thoughts the summer yields
Like woman soft & fair
The voice of love is in the fields
While music fills the air.

Methinks (cold fear) bids me bide
In thickest tufts of coverts close, and so myself to hide.
Ah, rueful remedy so that I (as it were)
Even tear my life out of the teeth of hounds, which make me fear,
And from those cruel curs and brain-sick bawling tykes,
Which do foot out to follow me both over hedge and dykes.

I do not wish the wealth of Gyges mine ,
Never did emulate nor ere repine
At Heavens decrees; Nor covet I to be
A mighty Prince, these things are far from me.

A network handkerchief contains no tear.
'Tis dawn at court ere wine and music sate.
The rich red crops no aftermath await,
Rest on a screen, and you will fall, I fear.

In vain physicians mingle bitter drinks
While the sick stomach still of sugar thinks.

Came it to your ears to hear
What the gaunt philosopher
One day, in his wisdom, said
To a proud, fat, pudding-head?
" Friend! " quoth he, " an Arab steed,
Though he should be lean indeed,
By his quality surpasses
All a stableful of asses! "