A pitiful sight —
that smoke rising at evening
from a brushwood fire.

His charcoal sold at market,
a man returns to the hills.

Ladies, to this advice give heed--

In controlling men:
If at first you don't succeed,
Why, cry, cry, again.

Nothing first-hand. I'm not your Saul. No burst
Of the Unendurable Dazzlement. Never durst
Claim more than a thrilling hunch: swirled autumn air,
Moon's stealth, or ado in the leaves —
shhh!
Someone there?

KNOWS HE that never took a pinch,
Nosey, the pleasure thence which flows?
Knows he the titillating joys
Which my nose knows?
O nose, I am as proud of thee
As any mountain of its snows;
I gaze on thee, and feel that pride
A Roman knows!

The King to Oxford sent a troop of horse,
For Tories own no argument but force:
With equal skill to Cambridge books he sent,
For Whigs admit no force but argument.

King George, observing with judicious eyes
The state of both his Universities,
To Oxford sent a troop of horse; and why?
That learned body wanted loyalty.
To Cambridge books he sent, as well discerning
How much that loyal body wanted learning.

Kind hearts are the gardens,
— Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the blossoms,
— Kind deeds are the fruits;
Love is the sweet sunshine
— That warms into life,
For only in darkness
— Grow hatred and strife.

Keep in God's way; keep pace with evry hour
Hurt none; do all the Good that's in your Power.
Hours can't look back at all; theyl stay for none
Tread sure, keep up with them, and All's your own.

Just one hundred poems in this little book —
but in poetry, quantity is not quality.
Halfway through life, you still live in respectable poverty,
but at least you can work at your five-word lines.
The blandness of your style hides inner richness;
in the level places: suddenly, towering peaks!
Late at night, reading these by lamplight
a man drives off the demon of sleep.

Just life and death make up our worldly state
So lose no sleep about it, early or late
Whatever firm assurances are given,
It is mere foolishness to trust a fate.
Building a house, he's wise as well as brave
Who when he does so also plans his grave
The carpenter who knows both wakes and bridals
Bits of a coffin for a crib will save.