Category: English poems
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To the Poor
by Anna Lætitia Barbauld Child of distress, who meet’st the bitter scorn, Of fellow-men to happier prospects born, Doomed Art and Nature’s various stores to see, Flow in full cups of joy—and not for thee; Who see’st the rich, to heaven and fate resigned, Bear thy afflictions with a patient mind; Whose bursting heart disdains […]
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The Builders
By John Masefield Before the unseen cock had called the time, Those workers left their beds and stumbled out Into the street, where dust lay white as lime Under the last star that keeps bats about. Then blinking still from bed, they trod the street, The doors closed up and down ; […]
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Choices
By Tess Gallagher I go to the mountain side of the house to cut saplings, and clear a view to snow on the mountain. But when I look up, saw in hand, I see a nest clutched in the uppermost branches. I don’t cut that one. I don’t cut the others either. Suddenly, in every […]
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On the Subject of Doctors
I like to see doctors cough. What kind of human being would grab all your money just when you’re down? I’m not saying they enjoy this: “Sorry, Mr. Rodriguez, that’s it, no hope! You might as well hand over your wallet.” Hell no, they’d rather be playing golf and swapping jokes about our feet. Some […]
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New Magic
At last I know—it’s on old ivory jars, Glassed with old miniatures and garnered once with musk. I’ve seen those eyes like smouldering April stars as carp might see them behind their bubbled skies in pale green fishponds—they’re as green as your eyes, As lakes themselves, changed to green stone at dusk. At last I […]
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Street View
I Google where I come from in Ireland,drag the yellow man into street viewand click the spin arrow over and overso I can see it all. When I pull him offthe control panel, above his + and – ,he flies, a patch of green hoveringbelow him, his own flying island, his littleearth shadow, smudged at the […]
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When I consider Everything that Grows
When I consider everything that growsHolds in perfection but a little moment,That this huge stage presenteth nought but showsWhereon the stars in secret influence comment;When I perceive that men as plants increase,Cheered and check’d even by the selfsame sky,Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,And wear their brave state out of memory;Then the conceit […]
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Let those who are in Favour with their Stars
by William Shakespeare Let those who are in favour with their starsOf public honour and proud titles boast,Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,Unlook’d for joy in that I honour most.Great princes’ favourites their fair leaves spreadBut as the marigold at the sun’s eye,And in themselves their pride lies buried,For at a frown they […]
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Song of the Witches “Double, double toil and trouble”
by William Shakespeare Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In the caldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,. Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like […]
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Just a Passer by
By Osward M. Mtshali I saw them clobber him with kieries I heard him scream with pain like a victim of slaughter; I smelt fresh blood gush from his nostrils, and flow in the street. I walked into the church and knelt in the pew ―Lord I love you. I also love my neighbour. Amen. […]
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Farewell Love and All Thy Laws Forever
By Sir Thomas Wyatt Farewell love and all thy laws forever;Thy baited hooks shall tangle me no more.Senec and Plato call me from thy loreTo perfect wealth, my wit for to endeavour.In blind error when I did persever,Thy sharp repulse, that pricketh aye so sore,Hath taught me to set in trifles no storeAnd scape forth, […]
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If You Can,t Trust the Monitors by Dorothea Lasky
If you can’t trust the monitorsThen why do they have the monitorsIf you can’t trust the carsThen why have the carsIf you can’t trust that I think you’re hotThen why do you look so goodTurning me on that way that you doIf you can’t trust the peopleThen why have the peopleIf you can’t trust the […]
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Homeless not Hopeless by Sola Awonibi
We are the natives of the streetholed-up under bridgeswe are necessary we are part of our existencemajor fragments of the globeas the day chameleons to nightyou slump in the warmth of your bedsand the heat of loved oneswe also embrace the cozycardboard beds laid on stinksas the night injects us with cool breezeand endurance.We sleep […]
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Each and All by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Little thinks, in the field, yon red-cloaked clown, Of thee from the hill-top looking down; The heifer that lows in the upland farm, Far-heard, lows not thine ear to charm; The sexton, tolling his bell at noon, Deems not that great Napoleon Stops his horse, and lists with delight, Whilst his files sweep round yon […]
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