Random Poems

From, 'Death and Taxes' - 'Sunset Gun' - 'Enough Rope'


Fighting Words

A Very Short Song

Unfortunate Coincidence

Men

General Review of the Sex Situation

Reuben's Children

Thought for a Sunshiny Morning

Frustration

Healed

Cherry White

Ultimatum

There was One


Fighting Words

Say my love is easy had, Say I'm bitten raw with pride, Say I am too often sad - Still behold me at your side. Say I'm neither brave nor young, Say I woo and coddle care, Say the devil touched my tounge - Still you have my heart to wear. But say my verses do not scan, And I'll get me another man!

A Very Short Song

Once, when I was young and true, Someone left me sad - Broke my brittle heart in two; And that is very bad. Love is for unlucky folk, Love is but a curse. Once there was a heart I broke; And that, I think, is worse.

Unfortunate Coincidence

By the time you swear you're his, Shivering and sighing, And he vows his passion is Infinite, undying - Lady make a note of this: One of you is lying.

Men

They hail you as their morning star Because you are the way you are. If you return the sentiment, They'll try to make you different; And once they have you, safe and sound, They want to change you all around. Your moods and ways they put a curse on; They'd make of you another person. They cannot let you go your gait; They influence and educate. They'd alter all that they admired. They make me sick, they make me tired.

General Review of the Sex Situation

Woman wants monogamy; Man delights in novelty. Love is a woman's moon and sun; Man has other forms of fun. Woman lives but in her lord; Count to ten, and a man is bored. With this the gist and sum of it, What earthly good can come of it?

Reuben's Children

Accursed from their birth they be Who seek to find monogamy, Persuing it from bed to bed - I think they would be better dead.

Thought for a Sunshiny Morning

It costs me never a stab nor squirm To tread by chance upon a worm. "Aha, my little dear," I say, "Your clan will pay me back one day."

Frustration

If I had a shiny gun, I could have a world of fun Speeding bullets through the brains Of the folk who give me pains; Or had I some poison gas, I could make the moments pass Bumping off a number of People whom I do not love. But I have no lethal weapon - Thus does fate our pleasure step on! So they still are quick and well Who should be, by rights in hell.

Healed

Oh, when I flung my heart away, The year was at its fall. I saw my dear, the other day, Beside a flowering wall; And this was all I had to say: "I thought that he was tall!"

Cherry White

I never see the prettiest thing - A cherry bough gone white with Spring - But what I think, "How gay 'twould be To hang me from a flowering tree."

Ultimatum

I'm wearied of wearying love, my friend, Of worry and strain and doubt; Before we begin, let us view the end, And maybe we'll do without. There's never the pang that was worth the tear, And toss in the night I won't - So either you do or you don't, my dear, Either you do or you don't! The table is ready, so lay your cards And if they should augur pain, I'll tender you ever my kind regards And run for the fastest train. I haven't the will to be spent and sad; My heart's to be gay and true - Then either you don't or you do, my lad, Either you don't or you do.

There was One

There was one a-riding grand On a tall brown mare, And a fine gold band He brought me there. A little, gold band He held to me That would shine on a hand For the world to see. There was one a-walking swift To a little, new song, And a rose was the gift He carried along, First of all the posies, Dewy and red. They that have roses never need bread. There was one with a swagger And a soft slow tounge, And a bright, cold dagger Where his left hand swung - Carven and gilt, Old and bad - And his stroking of the hilt Set a girl mad. There was one a-riding grand As he rode from me. And he raised his goldn band And he threw it in the sea. There was one a-walking slow To a sad, long sigh. And his rose drooped low, And he flung it down to die. There was one with a swagger And a little, sharp pride, And a bright cold dagger Ever at his side. At his side it stayed When he ran to part. What is this blade Struck through my heart?