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").

George

Who played with a Dangerous Toy, and suffered a Catastrophe of considerableDimensionsWhen George's Grandmamma was toldThat George had been as good as..

© Hilaire Belloc

From: Dedicatory Ode

I will not try the reach again,I will not set my sail alone,To moor a boat bereft of menAt Yarnton's tiny docks of stone.But I will sit beside the..

© Hilaire Belloc

Franklin Hyde

Who caroused in the Dirt and was corrected by His Uncle.His Uncle came upon Franklin HydeCarousing in the Dirt.He Shook him hard from Side to SideAnd..

© Hilaire Belloc

Fatigue

I'm tired of Love: I'm still more tired of Rhyme.But Money gives me pleasure all the time.

© Hilaire Belloc

Epitaph On The Favourite Dog Of A Politician

Here lies a Dog.- may every Dog that diesLie in security - as this Dog lies.

© Hilaire Belloc

Epitah On The Politician Himself

Here richly, with ridiculous display,The Politician's corpse was laid away.While all of his acquaintance sneered and slangedI wept: for I had longed..

© Hilaire Belloc

Drinking Song, On The Excellence Of Burgundy Wine

My jolly fat host with your face all a-grin,Come, open the door to us, let us come in.A score of stout fellows who think it no sinIf they toast till..

© Hilaire Belloc

Cuckoo!

In woods so long time bareCuckoo!Up and in the wood, I know not whereTwo notes fall.Yet I do not envy him at allHis phantasy.Cuckoo!I too,Somewhere,I..

© Hilaire Belloc

Criterion

When you are mixed with many I descryA single light, and judge the rest thereby.But when you are alone with me, why then,I quite forget all women and..

© Hilaire Belloc

Courtesy

Of Courtesy, it is much lessThan Courage of Heart or Holiness,Yet in my Walks it seems to meThat the Grace of God is in Courtesy.On Monks I did in..

© Hilaire Belloc

Charles Augustus Fortescue

The nicest child I ever knewWas Charles Augustus Fortescue.He never lost his cap, or toreHis stockings or his pinafore:In eating Bread he made no..

© Hilaire Belloc

Cautionary Tales For Children: Introduction

And is it True? It is not True.And if it were it wouldn’t do,For people such as me and youWho pretty nearly all day longAre doing something rather..

© Hilaire Belloc

Because My Faltering Feet

Because my faltering feet may fail to dareThe first descendant of the steps of HellGive me the Word in time that triumphs there.I too must pass into..

© Hilaire Belloc

Ballade To Our Lady Of Czestochowa

ILady and Queen and Mystery manifoldAnd very Regent of the untroubled sky,Whom in a dream St. Hilda did beholdAnd heard a woodland music passing..

© Hilaire Belloc

Ballade Of Modest Confession

My reading is extremely deep and wide;And as our modern education goes—Unique I think, and skilfully appliedTo Art and Industry and Autres..

© Hilaire Belloc

An Author’s Hope

When I am dead, I hope it may be said:‘His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.’

© Hilaire Belloc

Algernon

Who played with a Loaded Gun, and, on missing his Sister was reprimanded byhis Father.Young Algernon, the Doctor's Son,Was playing with a Loaded..

© Hilaire Belloc

A Trinity

Of three in One and One in threeMy narrow mind would doubting beTill Beauty, Grace and Kindness metAnd all at once were Juliet.

© Hilaire Belloc

A Moral Alphabet (Excerpt)

D: The Dreadful Dinotherium heWill have to do his best for D.The early world observed with aweHis back, indented like a saw.His look was gay, his..

© Hilaire Belloc

[month Of] September

I, from a window where the Meuse is wide,Looked eastward out to the September night;The men that in the hopeless battle diedRose, and deployed, and..

© Hilaire Belloc

[month Of] October

Look, how those steep woods on the mountain's faceBurn, burn against the sunset; now the coldInvades our very noon: the year's grown old,Mornings are..

© Hilaire Belloc

[month Of] October

Look, how those steep woods on the mountain's faceBurn, burn against the sunset; now the coldInvades our very noon: the year's grown old,Mornings are..

© Hilaire Belloc

[month Of] November

November is that historied Emperor,Conquered in age, but foot to foot with fate,Who from his refuge high has heard the roarOf squadrons in pursuit..

© Hilaire Belloc

[month Of] May

This is the laughing-eyed amongst them all:My lady's month. A season of young things.She rules the light with harmony, and bringsThe year's first..

© Hilaire Belloc

[month Of] March

The north-cast wind has come from Norroway,Roaring he came above the white waves' tips!The foam of the loud sea was on his lips,And all his hair was..

© Hilaire Belloc