Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
Song
Inviting the influence of a young lady upon the opening yearYou wear the morning like your dressAnd are with mastery crown’d;When as you walk your..
© Hilaire Belloc
Sarah Byng, Who Could Not Read And Was Tossed Into A Thorny Hedge By A Bull
Some years ago you heard me singMy doubts on Alexander Byng.His sister Sarah now inspiresMy jaded Muse, my failing fires.Of Sarah Byng the tale is..
© Hilaire Belloc
Rebecca
Who Slammed Doors For Fun And Perished MiserablyA trick that everyone abhorsIn little girls is slamming doors.A wealthy banker's little daughterWho..
© Hilaire Belloc
On Vital Statistics
Ill fares the land to hast'ning ills a prey (1)Where wealth accumulates and men decay.'But how much more unfortunate are thoseWhere wealth declines..
© Hilaire Belloc
On Two Ministers Of State
Lump says that Caliban's of gutter breed,And Caliban says Lump's a fool indeed,And Caliban and Lump and I are all agreed.
© Hilaire Belloc
On Torture: A Public Singer
Torture will give a dozen pence or moreTo keep a drab from bawling at his door.The public taste is quite a different thingTorture is positively paid..
© Hilaire Belloc
On The Little God
Of all the gods that gave me all their gloriesTo-day there deigns to walk with me but one.I lead him by the hand and tell him stories.It is the Queen..
© Hilaire Belloc
On The Ladies Of Pixton
Three Graces; and the mother were a Grace,But for profounder meaning in her face.
© Hilaire Belloc
On The Gift Of A Book To A Child
Child! do not throw this book about!Refrain from the unholy pleasureOf cutting all the pictures out!Preserve it as your chiefest treasure.Child, have..
© Hilaire Belloc
Matilda Who Told Lies, And Was Burned To Death
Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes;Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,Had kept a Strict Regard for..
© Hilaire Belloc
Lord Roehampton
During a late election LordRoehampton strained a vocal chordFrom shouting, very loud and high,To lots and lots of people whyThe Budget in his own..
© Hilaire Belloc
Lord Lundy Ii - Second Canto
It happened to Lord Lundy then,As happens to so many men:Towards the age of twenty-six,They shoved him into politics;In which profession he..
© Hilaire Belloc
Lord Lundy
Who was too Freely Moved to Tears, and thereby ruined his Political CareerLord Lundy from his earliest yearsWas far too freely moved to Tears.For..
© Hilaire Belloc
Lord Finchley
Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric LightHimself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!It is the business of the wealthy manTo give..
© Hilaire Belloc
Lines To A Don
Remote and ineffectual DonThat dared attack my Chesterton,With that poor weapon, half-impelled,Unlearnt, unsteady, hardly held,Unworthy for a tilt..
© Hilaire Belloc
Kings Live In Palaces, And Pigs In Sties
Kings live in Palaces, and Pigs in sties,And youth in Expectation. Youth is wise.
© Hilaire Belloc
King's Land
Stand thou forever among human Houses,House of the Resurrection, House of Birth;House of the rooted hearts and long carouses,Stand, and be famous..
© Hilaire Belloc
Juliet
How did the party go in Portman Square?I cannot tell you; Juliet was not there.And how did Lady Gaster's party go?Juliet was next me and I do not..
© Hilaire Belloc
Jim
Who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a LionThere was a Boy whose name was Jim;His Friends were very good to him.They gave him Tea, and Cakes..
© Hilaire Belloc
Is There Any Reward?
Is there any reward?I'm beginning to doubt it.I am broken and bored,Is there any rewardReassure me, Good Lord,And inform me about it.Is there any..
© Hilaire Belloc
Introduction: The Bad Child's Book Of Beasts
I call you bad, my little child,Upon the title page,Because a manner rude and wildIs common at your age.The Moral of this priceless work(If rightly..
© Hilaire Belloc
Introduction: More Beasts For Worse Children
The parents of the learned child(His father and his mother)Were utterly aghast to noteThe facts he would at random quoteOn creatures curious, rare..
© Hilaire Belloc
Hildebrand
Who was frightened by a Passing Motor, and was brought to Reason"Oh murder! What was that, Papa!""My child, It was a Motor-Car,A most Ingenious..
© Hilaire Belloc
Heroic Poem In Praise Of Wine
To exalt, enthrone, establish and defend,To welcome home mankind's mysterious friendWine, true begetter of all arts that be;Wine, privilege of the..
© Hilaire Belloc