Short Poems

A tuneful challenge rings from either side
Of Thames' fair banks. Thy twice six Bells, Saint Bride,
Peal swift and shrill; to which more slow reply
The deep-toned eight of Mary Overy.
Such harmony from the contention flows,
That the divided ear no preference knows;
Betwixt them both disparting Music's State,
While one exceeds in number, one in weight.

Who here blames words, or verses, songs, or singers,
Like Mutius Scaevola will burn his fingers.

On the Death of Mr. T HOMAS L ANCASHIRE , Comedian.

A LAS , poor Tom! how oft, with merry heart,
Have we beheld thee play the Sexton's part!
Each comic heart must now be griev'd to see
The Sexton's dreary part perform'd on thee.

I think they were about as high
As haycocks are. They went running by
Catching bits of shade in the sunny street:
" I've got one," cried sister to brother.
" I've got two." " Now I've got another."
But scudding away on their little bare feet,
They left the shade in the sunny street.

To the Printer

Printer , Thou tellst me good Bookes will not sell,
Most men (thou say'st) are now become so ill:
Then heere's a Booke belike should like them well;
For, Foolery , in Folio, it doth fill.
Then print this some, sith Foolery in print
Most men approue, the World is at this stint.

I TOOK a Rosebud from a certain bower,
And by its side placed an Orange flower,
Then with the Speedwell, blended the perfume
And the sweet beauty of an Apple-bloom,
And thus, 'tis one of the loveliest feats,
Is spelled a gentle lady's name in sweets.

There was a Young Person of Kew,
Whose virtues and vices were few;
But with blameable haste, she devoured some hot paste,
Which destroyed that Young Person of Kew.

There was an Old Person of Ems,
Who casually fell in the Thames;
And when he was found, they said he was drowned,
That unlucky Old Person of Ems.

In unison with the flute —
the plucking of koto strings.

Grass cutters return
from work in the evening
with the pining wind.

Daylight is fading —
let's find mooring
for our boat!
Off there
where the light
of fishing fires is glowing
must be the homes