They say my verse is bad (parody)
(with apologies to A.E. Housman)
They say my verse is bad: no wonder,
its measure too narrow spans
tidings of eternity, and of no tomorrow
neither mine; nor man’s.
Whenever ill-treated I bellow
about what I have not and have got,
for those who read to be of trouble
as if a poet, I am not.
[Reference: “They say my verse is sad, no wonder” by A.E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
He could not stay with me (parody)
(with apologies to A. E. Housman)
He could not stay with me; and it’s getting me under.
He could not stay with me and I am amazed at his gaze,
I shook his hand and gave my heart in blunder
and went with half my life into my days.
[Reference: VII “He would not stay for me; and who can wonder? ” by A. E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The mill-stream rushes by (parody)
(with apologies to A. E. Housman)
The millstream rushes by sounding like a disease
in all this I cannot hold my peace,
under the bridge the devil passes by
and tonight with him escaped from hell, here am I.
Who created the world I know but cannot now tell,
“It was made and I am here and the devil out of hell.
My hand shakes because he’s freed,
I never thought that we would meet.
And so, I doubt in all eternity, anyone gone by,
none has suffered here such as I
who could not spend the night alone, the devil isn’t gone
and I can’t even strike my fist; I am standing here like stone.
[Reference: XIX “The mill-stream, now that noises cease” by A. E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I promise everything (parody)
(with apologies to A. E. Housman)
I promise everything: to friends or art
and what will end, had to begin
as without truth or singleness of heart
I am a mortal man full of sin.
But this lucky love should not pass
when unanswered passion are in the air,
or I will with fate at last.
be able for once in earth’s foundation to care.
[Reference: XII “I promise nothing: friends will part” by A. E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
While bells at twilight toll (parody)
(with apologies to A. E. Housman)
While bells at twilight toll
this day like usual, I am without a soul;
soon in the evening I myself will be gone
whispering for the night to come on.
I cannot blame the bright light
nor your whispering back in the night;
though even if we in this night were still
before we part I would catch a chill.
[Reference: XVII “Bells in the tower at evening toll” by A. E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
In House Joke Man
IN HOUSE JOKE MAN
AP toasts, hosts, verse free from fee,
no tyrant rhyme rules most on site,
Oh! I rant boast's writ's point can't see
will one respond wit[h] second sight?
8 June 2008 Parody A. E. HOUSMAN - see quote below
robi03_1752_hous01_0008 PXX_IXX
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
'The Grizzly Bear is huge and wild; He has devoured the infant child. The infant child is not aware He has been eaten by the bear.'
A. E. HOUSMAN
poem by Jonathan Robin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Fancy’s knell (parody)
(with apologies to A.E. Housman)
When sailors were home from the harbour
every Thom, Dick and Harry
a man would call the friend in his favour
and both would send for thee.
And in little animal like prances
across the meadow no one could wait
to jive with envious glances
whenever you played for Harry and his mate.
Tom, Dick and Harry had frolicking little pleasures
and with ladies content they were
to visit them without proper measures
even the old to dare
and you so intensely playing
that every second woman would weep
while the light of youth was decaying
and with no one you would sleep.
No one took your fancy,
not even glamorous girls with skins in tan,
not even big bosomed Nancy
or slender little Fan;
and to whatever girl would lift her glances
you stayed totally mute,
while everybody at the dances
were humming with your flute.
Your days as a man between the women was numbered
and you did not meet anyone at the surf
and nowhere between them slumbered
even in smooth green miles of turf,
even in grass and clover
you like the sun at night would fade
wishing to get a conversation over
to hide in the lofty shade.
While women on you advances
you lift your flute to play:
come ladies learn the dances
and let you all be away.
Tomorrow you will be witty
and away you will be
pretty and dirty
but it will not be from me.
[Reference: XLI Fancy’s knell by A.E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
{verse 1)
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory Hallelujah
-repeat verse-
Sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down
Yes lord, you know sometimes I'm almost to the ground
O yes, Lord, still
-verse 1-
You got here before I do
O yes Lord, don't forget to tell all my friends I'm coming too
O yes Lord, still
-verse 1-
song performed by by Louis Armstrong
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Christmas (Tuckerman sonnet)
(after A. E. Housman)
Home are the soldiers, they are home and free,
they are home from the far off battlefield
never to a man’s will again to yield
home with loved ones, some friends to see.
Home is the farmer from the working field
where many acres of land lies prepared,
he is at the place where he wants to be
safe under God’s almighty constant shield
free from all kinds of dark iniquity
tranquillity is in the open veldt,
the evening falls, twilight is at hand,
with his cattle all having being cared
and soldier’s dance with a happy band,
close the farmer’s wife is being held
[Reference: XXII “Home is the sailor, home from sea” by A. E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Verse 1:
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
You fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my trouble, that's what you do
Verse 2:
For the morning sun and all it's glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
Somehow make it batter
Ease my trouble that's what you do
Chorus :
There's a love defined
And it's yours and it's mine
Like the sun
That the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one
(Verse 1)
(Chorus)
song performed by by Kenny Rogers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Shapes Of Things
(keith relf - jim mccarty - paul samwell-smith)
Verse 1:
Shapes
Of things before my eyes
Just teach me to despise
Will time make man more wise
Verse 2:
Here
Within my lonely frame
My eyes just hurt my brain
But will they seem the same
Chorus:
Come tomorrow
Will I be older
Come tomorrow
May be a soldier
Come tomorrow
Will I be bolder
Than today?
Verse 3:
Now
The trees are almost green
But will they still be seen
Where time and tide have been
Verse 4:
Fallen
Into your passing hands
Please dont destroy these lands
Dont make them desert sands
[repeat chorus]
Guitar solo:
Verse 5:
Soon
I hope that I will find
Loves deep within my mind
That wont disgrace my kind
song performed by by Allman Brothers Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
My brother used to say that I wrote faster than he could read. He wrote two books - of poems - better than all mine put together.
quote by Laurence Housman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
To Dr. Austin, Of Cecil Street, London
Austin, accept a grateful verse from me,
The poet's treasure, no inglorious fee.
Loved by the Muses, thy ingenuous mind
Pleasing requital in my verse may find;
Verse oft has dashed the scythe of Time aside,
Immortalising names which else had died.
And oh, could I command the glittering wealth
With which sick kings are glad to purchase health;
Yet, if extensive fame, and sure to live,
Were in the power of verse like mine to give,
I would not recompense his art with less,
Who, giving Mary health, heals my distress.
Friend of my friend! I love thee, though unknown,
And boldly call thee, being his, my own.
poem by William Cowper
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The troubles of our proud and angry dust are from eternity, and shall not fail. Bear them we can, and if we can we must. Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale.
quote by A.E. Housman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Song Of A Rhyming Man
I love the sound of rhyming words like Dan will rhyme with Ann
And I could never be a poet just call me rhyming man
This modern verse too much for me it's way above my head
Though modern poets are now the rage and Rhyme is with the dead.
I love the sound of rhyming words, I love the verse that rhyme
To blank or free or non rhyme verse prefer it every time
And there's many who will disagree and most will say I'm wrong
But give me ballad or rhyme verse or good old rhyming song.
You may say I am limited and with you most will agree
That I'm not into modern verse of twenty first century
But I've been an old style rhyming man since nineteen seventy three
And I am in my sixties now and there's no changing me.
I love the sound of rhyming words like Dan will rhyme with Ann
And I could never be a poet just call me rhyming man
And I am guilty of no sin and I can't see no crime
In liking sound of rhyming verse and loving words that rhyme
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
You Can Contribute A Verse
Contribute a verse, contribute a verse,
Who can contribute a verse?
Contribute a verse, contribute a verse,
You can contribute a verse.
You may be an underpaid lab’rer,
Streetsweeper or overworked nurse,
A migrant without any papers,
But you can contribute a verse.
You left school at sixteen with no GCSEs?
Did you graduate from Oxford with a First?
Makes no diff’rence, not one bit, for you both are fully fit,
Well-equipped to lay before the world a verse.
You may have no notes in your wallet,
You may have no coins in your purse,
No shoes on your feet, no breakfast to eat,
But you can contribute a verse.
Are you feeling sad and lonely,
In the depths of misery?
Do you feel this Life we’re living
Is not worth the entrance fee?
Are you sure that things will not get any better?
Quite persuaded they will go from bad to worse?
No great problem, drama, crisis, doesn’t matter,
As long as you can come up with a verse.
And it’s possible you’ve heard that our days upon this earth
Are not many, are not many, precious few.
We have hardly enough time to take in all of the sights,
Or do the things that we would like to do.
For we’ve barely crawled out of the cradle,
Then they cart us away in a hearse.
So, in the meantime don’t be idle:
Be sure to contribute a verse!
27/9/06
poem by Denys E. W. Jones
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Triple Fool
I am two fools, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining poetry;
But where's that wise man, that would not be I,
If she would not deny?
Then as th' earth's inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea water's fretful salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my pains
Through rhyme's vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
For he tames it, that fetters it in verse.
But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth set and sing my pain;
And, by delighting many, frees again
Grief, which verse did restrain.
To love and grief tribute of verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when 'tis read.
Both are increasèd by such songs,
For both their triumphs so are published,
And I, which was two fools, do so grow three.
Who are a little wise, the best fools be.
poem by John Donne
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
1982
Verse 1
Operator, please connect me with 1982
I need to make apologies for what I didnt do
I sure do need to tell her that Ive thought the whole thing through
And now its clear that she is what I should have held on to
Chorus
They say hindsights twenty-twenty
But Im nearly goin blind
From starin at her photograph and wishing she was mine
Its that same ole lost love story
Its sad but its true
There was a time when she was mine in 1982
Verse 2
Postman can you sell me a special kind of stamp
One to send a letter from this crazy lonely man
Back into the wasted years of my living past
I need to tell her now I know how long my love will last
(chorus)
Losin my mind, goin back in time to 1982
song performed by by Randy Travis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Take Your Time
(holly / petty)
Take your time, I can wait
All of our love I know will be mine
If you take your time
Take your time, though its late
Heart strings will sing like a string of twine
If you take your time
Take your time and take mine too
I have time to spend
Take your time, go with me through
Times til all times end
Verse 1
Verse 3
Verse 1
For our love, the love I know will be mine
If you take your time
song performed by by Hollies
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Walked In The Rain
I've been away
High on a breeze
Tasted the salt of the seven blue seas Verse 1
Washed upon shores
Sun in my eyes
Stayed long enough just to say my goodbyes...
I walked in the rain
Wet me through and through
Following rainbows that lead me back to you Chorus
I've always believed
In what I've been told
Where rainbows end there's a pot of gold...
I'll read the stars
Talk to the moon
Stop when I hear somebody playing our tune Verse 2
Any excuse
And you'll see me
Drifting back home to the place I should be...
Some people say
Listen to me
Mostly I find that I disagree Verse 3
They tell me to change
Set myself free
I'm not convinced I don't want to be me
Maybe I'll stay
Maybe I'll go
Maybe I'll stick around I don't know Verse 4
One thing for sure
This I can say
I'm coming back; I've been so far away
song performed by by UB40 from Cover Up
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Hey What's Wrong With Me
Hey just what's with me
You've been looking far too good to me
I know our love could never be now
My heart it keeps on beating
I know that you've been cheating
I know our love could never be now
I tried how I tried
to keep you satisfied
by me Oh gee
you go from me and how I cried
verse 1
verse 3
verse 1
verse 2
I know our love could never be now
song performed by by Hollies
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!