Short Poems

In a weird, forlorn voice
he cries: it is a mirage!
Then tosses a wreath of scorpions
to the children,
mounts his white nag
and creeps off into darkness,
smoking an orange.

" I'm Mark's alone! " you swore. Given cause to doubt you,
I think less of you dear. But more about you.

I'm called by the name of a man,
Yet am as little as a mouse;
When winter comes I love to be
With my red target near the house.

Whence have you fallen, have you fallen? Whence have you fallen, have you fallen?
Did you fall, fall, fall, fall, from the top of the salmon-berry bushes?

If you do not shake the bottle,
None'll come, and then a lot'll.

If " ifs " and " ands "
Were pots and pans,
There would be no need for tinkers!

If ever you go to Dolgelly
Don't dine at the Lion Hotel;
For there's nothing to put in your belly
And no one to answer the bell.

If all the voices of men called out warning you, and you could not join your voice with their voices,
If all the faces of men were turned one way and you met them face to face, you going another, —
You still must not be persuaded to capitulation; you will remember that the road runs east as well as west.

I WISH I loved the Human Race;
I wish I loved its silly face;
I wish I loved the way it walks;
I wish I loved the way it talks;
And when I'm introduced to one
I wish I thought What Jolly Fun!

I, who all my life had hurried,
Came to Peter's crowded gate;
And, as usual, was worried,
Fearing that I might be late.
So, when I began to jostle
(I forgot that I was dead)
Patient smiled the old Apostle:
" Take your Eternity, " he said.