En.Citatepedia^®.ro

In The Bistro

Valentine's day just a few days off
it was charming how after a hefty meal
of coq au vin and greasy frites
and wine enough to raddle a pancreas

you shot that loaded straw my way
me leaving, from your battery behind
the bar. Harmlessly the paper slip fluttered by
filled, assassin, with the breath of your lips,

before coasting to rest on the floor-
well before that fine day when Loves'
dart burns the air, seeking a warm breast
in which to rest and germinate song.

Discretely, though it was late and diners
few, I stopped, picked it up, flattened it out
drew it under my nose as though it were
a rose, a scented billet doux, and dropped it

on the counter back to you who merely
bent far, far back and shook and shook
darkly with gallic laughter. The gall!
graceful, turncoat scion of pig-farmers.

Outside I smiled in the cold that turned
huffy exhalations into cirrhus wreathes,
that prank having warmed my bones to the ruddy core-
We are all just peasants with degrees,

and vowed, the coming holy day night, to return
armed with a dozen straws or so to make of mine
enemy a laughing porcupine, my memory
for these vendettas only long, but that's about it.

poem by Morgan Michaels
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Shook Me All Night Long (feat. Cline Dion)

[Celine Dion]
He was a fast machine
He kept his motor clean
He was the best damn man I had ever seen
He had the sightless eyes
Telling me no lies
Knockin' me out with those American thighs
[Anastacia]
Taking more than he share
Had me fightin' for air
He told me to come but I was already there
'Cause the walls were shakin'
The earth was quakin'
My mind was achin'
And we were makin' it and you...
[Both]
Shook me all night long
C'mon girlfriend
Oh yeah
Shook me
Said you...shook me all night long
Oooh shook me
[Anastacia]
Workin' double time
On the seduction line
He was one of a kind, he's just mine all mine
Wanted no applause
Just another course
He made a meal out of me and came back for more
[Celine Dion]
Had to cool me down
To take another round
Now I'm back in the ring to take another swing
Now the walls were shakin'
The earth was quakin'
My mind was achin'
And we were makin' it and you...
[Both]
[C'mon]
Shook me all night long
C'mon girlfriend, shook me
Ooooooooh...you
Shook me all night long
Everybody sing with me
You shook me all night long
Oooh...
Shook me, shook me...baby
You shook me all night long
Shook me...
C'mon
I said, you shook ma all night long
Oooooooh...oooooh...you
Shook me all night long
You, you, you...
Shook me all night long
You...
Shook me baby...you
Shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me, you shook me
Oooooh, you shook me, you shook me, you shook me, you shook me
All night...yeaaah

song performed by by Anastacia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Shook Me All Night Long

She was a fast machine
She kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman i had ever seen
She had the sightless eyes
Telling me no lies
Knockin' me out with those american thighs
Taking more than her share
Had me fighting for air
She told me to come but i was already there
'cause the walls start shaking
The earth was quaking
My mind was aching
And we were making it and you -
Chorus:
Shook me all night long
Yeah you shook me all night long
Working double time
On the seduction line
She was one of a kind, she's just mine all mine
She wanted no applause
Just another course
Made a meal out of me and came back for more
Had to cool me down
To take another round
Now i'm back in the ring to take another swing
'cause the walls were shaking
The earth was quaking
My mind was aching
And we were making it and you -
Chorus
And knocked me out and then you
Shook me all night long
You had me shakin' and you
Shook me all night long
Yeah you shook me
Well you took me
You reall took me and you
Shook me all night long
Ooooh you
Shook me all night long
Yeah, yeah, you
Shook me all night long
Your really took me and you
Yeah you shook me, yeah you shook me
All night long

song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Most Memorable Valentine

I would see the old lady in the halls where I did volunteer work.
About eighty plus years old, with the bent over shuffle of the very old or very feeble.Pushing her walker laboriously, yet with determination as she went to her appointments.

I stopped often to talk to her, usually in the cafeteria where she had her favorite spot.

During one of these chats she excitedly told me the doctor had told her that very day that her cancer had seemingly gone away. felt good for her, and had a warm feeling the rest of that day.
I didn't see her for quite some time and began to think she might have died, so I was relieved on Valentines day to see her slumped down dozing in her customary seat in the cafeteria, her walker folded
Beside her.

I didn't bother to chat her up since she looked so peaceful, eyes half closed, head on her breast.I sat down in a booth just across a divider between us. No more than three feet separated us from
each other as I worked my crossword puzzle and had breakfast.

My attention was taken by the voice of a bus girl replying to the old lady, who asked again if she could get her another coffee and a cinnamon donut. The bus girl said 'of course, but it would be a
few moments before she could get it.' After a moment, I got up and approached the bus girl and told her 'never mind, that
I would take care of the ladies coffee and donut.'

I bought and paid for it and then tapped the old girl on the shoulder. She recognized me as the man who chatted with her occasionally and gave me a tired, friendly smile. I told her that today was Valentines day and I didn't have a Valentine to call my own, and that It would please me so much If she would be my Valentine and gave her the coffee and donut. 'just for today, okay? '

At first she looked taken aback, and then smiled broadly and said 'of course, of course my dear! '
I put my hand on her blue veined, withered hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. She put her other hand over mine and gave the squeeze right back. As I took leave I said 'don't forget…today you're my Valentine' and she smiled, winked, and said 'and you'll be mine.'

For a short while, after I went on with my day, I replayed our exchange over in my mind, thinking what a fine, gallant man am I, doing such a generous gesture for an old lady. Then I realized that she had done much more for me than I had done for her.

She had made me feel good about myself at that moment, but the memory of her smile and wink, would make me feel warm and fuzzy for the rest of my life.

She will always be my favorite…most memorable Valentine of my life.

poem by David Whalen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The September Rose

To sighs of morning air, that froze,-
(With her lips opened for a say),
How curiously has smiled the rose
On a September fleeting day!

And how has she ever dared
To greet, with air of springy queens,
The single blue-tit, in the bare
Shrubs fleshing in the orb of wings;

To bloom with steadfast dream that later,
Just leaving her cold bed in rest,
She’ll cling, the last and dissipated,
To a young hostess’s charming breast!

poem by Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Mother's Soul

When the moon was horned the mother died,
And the child pulled at her hand and knee,
And he rubbed her cheek and loudly cried:
'O mother, arise, give bread to me!'
But the pine tree bent its head,
And the wind at the door-post said:
'O child, thy mother is dead !'
The sun set his loom to weave the day;
The frost bit sharp like a silent cur;
The child by her pillow paused in his play:
'Mother, build up the sweet fire of fir !'
But the fir tree shook its cones,
And loud cried the pitiful stones:
'Wolf Death has thy mother's bones!'

They bore the mother out on her bier;
Their tears made warm her breast and shroud;
The smiling child at her head stood near;
And the long, white tapers shook and bowed,
And said with their tongues of gold,
To the ice lumps of the grave mold:
'How heavy are ye and cold!'

They buried the mother; to the feast
They flocked with the beaks of unclean crows.
The wind came up from the red-eyed east
And bore in its arms the chill, soft snows.
They said to each other: 'Sere
Are the hearts the mother held dear;
Forgotten, her babe plays here!'

The child with the tender snowflakes played,
And the wind on its fingers twined his hair;
And still by the tall, brown grave he stayed,
Alone in the churchyard lean and bare.
The sods on the high grave cried
To the mother's white breast inside:
'Lie still; in thy deep rest bide!'

Her breast lay still like a long-chilled stone,
Her soul was out on the bleak, grey day;
She saw her child by the grave alone,
With the sods and snow and wind at play.
Said the sharp lips of the rush,
'Red as thy roses,O bush,
With anger the dead can blush !'

A butterfly to the child's breast flew,*
Fluttered its wings on his sweet, round cheek,
Danced by his fingers, small, cold and blue.
The sun strode down past the mountain peak.
The butterfly whispered low
To the child: 'Babe, follow me; know,
Cold is the earth here below.'

The butterfly flew; followed the child,
Lured by the snowy torch of its wings;
The wind sighed after them soft and wild
Till the stars wedded night with golden rings
Till the frost upreared its head,
And the ground to it groaned and said:
'The feet of the child are lead!'

The child's head drooped to the brown, sere mold,
On the crackling cones his white breast lay;
The butterfly touched the locks of gold,
The soul of the child sprang from its clay.
The moon to the pine tree stole,
And silver-lipped, said to its bole:
'How strong is the mother's soul !'

The wings of the butterfly grew out
To the mother's arms, long, soft and white;
She folded them warm her babe about,
She kissed his lips into berries bright,
She warmed his soul on her breast;
And the east called out to the west:
'Now the mother's soul will rest!'

Under the roof where the burial feast
Was heavy with meat and red with wine,
Each crossed himself as out of the east
A strange wind swept over oak and pine.
The trees to the home-roof said:
' 'Tis but the airy rush and tread
Of angels greeting thy dead.'

poem by Isabella Valancy Crawford
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Boogie Nights All Night

Erykah badu - boogie nights/all night
We gon keep it back for yall
Keep it back in the day
Boogie nights, wo oh oh
Boogie nights, wo oh oh
Wo oh oh oh
Come on new york
Whatcha say, come on
What they say, push it up, oh
Somethings got me so excited baby
A feeling Ive been holding back so long
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out
On your loving
And boy, I cant wait to get started loving you
All night long, I waited for your love to come
To the roof, to show you the groove
Its you that I love, I love
And for this loving, Ill be waiting
For your love, anticipating
Hurry I said, cause I cant wait to get it on
Im gonna give it to ya
All night long
Im gonna give it to ya, give it to ya, give it to ya, give it to ya
All night long
I cant wait to love you baby
Im gonna give it to ya
Im gonna give it to ya
Im gonna give it to ya
Oh, somethings got me so delighted baby
I see your face in everything I do
Youve got me, shook up, shook down, shook out
On your lovin
And boy, there is just no way, Ill ever, get over you
All night long, I waited for your love to come
To the roof, to show you the groove
Its you that I love, I love
Up on this rooftop, Ill be waiting
For your love, anticipating
Hurry up I said, cause I cant wait to get it on
All night long
I cant wait to love you baby
All night long
I wanna give it to ya, give it to ya, give it to ya, give it to ya
All night long
Come on up boy, dont be late
What I got for you wont wait
All night long
Climb up on the rooftop, dont stop
My loves waiting when you reach the top
Jamaica funk, thats what it is
Let it get into you
Jamaica funk, thats what it is
Coming from jamaica
Can you feel it
Let it get into you
Cause I feel the funk, deep down in my soul
Comin from jamaica
All night long
I wanna give it to ya, give it to ya, give it to ya, give it to ya
All night long
I cant wait to love you baby
Im gonna give it to ya
Sweebe-do-be-do-do do-ya
Sweebe-do-be-do-do do-ya
Alright, alright, thank you, thank you

song performed by by Erykah Badu
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blackberry Wine

Theres a south wind risin and the moon shines on my window sill
Ive got a feeling I might walk on over the hill
Im bent but not broken, all I need is some rest
And a bottle of your very best
Blackberry wine
Theres a new moon risin and the wind sings its old song
Pass it on over its a sin to be sober too long
Im bent but not broken, all I need is my share
Of a bottle of that very rare
Blackberry wine
My old gals got a new dress on five and dime
Try as she will she cant get me to come home on time
But Id never cheat her or mistreat her you know
As over the mountain I go
Blackberry wine
Ill be soft spoken
All I need is my rest
And a bottle of your very best
Blackberry wine
Now my days are numbered and one more heels been killed
Blackberry john left me his old recipe in his will
Im bent but not broken, all I need is some time
And a bottle of your very fine
Blackberry wine
Blackberry wine,
You know that Im quite dry without you
Blackberry wine

song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Days of Wine and Roses

A Tangerine sun glazed The Travis Vineyard
While the Deep Purple haze, just glowed
The aroma's from all of the picked grapes
Filled Napa's Colored-flavored show!

The Valley 'tis filled with a bounty
Of future vino's of varying kinds
Aged and then tingled to the palate
'Tis Ambrosia, most divine, from the vine!

The succulent grape and its splendour
Shines the California's-near-by coast
The valley, itself, 'Tis a purple Wonder
Growing the most primo for its hosts

Perhaps a wine tasting party?
Hmmmm, wonder, if The Gallo's might attend?
It will truly be a celebration
As the days of Wine, are just 'round the bend!

Oh, did i leave off, The Roses?
My mistake, Mon Amore.
The title would not be complete
As it was, in the days of yore!

Back when it was a Movie
Back when it was a romantic song
Back in the time of old actors (Jack Lemmon)
Back when the wine could do no wrong!

'The Days Of Wine And Roses'
It taps at my long ago memory
Taking me back to a time
When the grape was truly very new to me!

poem by Theodora Onken
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Fairy Bridal-Hymn

[This is the hymn to Eleanor, daughter of Mab and a golden drone, sung by the Locust choir when the fairy child marries her God, the yellow rose]

This is a song to the white-armed one
Cold in the breast as the frost-wrapped Spring,
Whose feet are slow on the hills of life,
Whose round mouth rules by whispering.

This is a song to the white-armed one
Whose breast shall burn as a Summer field,
Whose wings shall rise to the doors of gold,
Whose poppy lips to the God shall yield.

This is a song to the white-armed one
When the closing rose shall bind her fast,
And a song of the song their blood shall sing,
When the Rose-God drinks her soul at last.

poem by Vachel Lindsay
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Light Love

'Oh, sad thy lot before I came,
But sadder when I go;
My presence but a flash of flame,
A transitory glow
Between two barren wastes like snow.
What wilt thou do when I am gone,
Where wilt thou rest, my dear?
For cold thy bed to rest upon,
And cold the falling year
Whose withered leaves are lost and sere.'

She hushed the baby at her breast,
She rocked it on her knee:
'And I will rest my lonely rest,
Warmed with the thought of thee,
Rest lulled to rest by memory.'
She hushed the baby with her kiss,
She hushed it with her breast:
'Is death so sadder much than this—
Sure death that builds a nest
For those who elsewhere cannot rest?'

'Oh, sad thy note, my mateless dove,
With tender nestling cold;
But hast thou ne'er another love
Left from the days of old,
To build thy nest of silk and gold,
To warm thy paleness to a blush
When I am far away—
To warm thy coldness to a flush,
And turn thee back to May,
And turn thy twilight back to day?'

She did not answer him again,
But leaned her face aside,
Weary with the pang of shame and pain,
And sore with wounded pride:
He knew his very soul had lied.
She strained his baby in her arms,
His baby to her heart:
'Even let it go, the love that harms:
We twain will never part;
Mine own, his own, how dear thou art.'

'Now never teaze me, tender-eyed,
Sigh-voiced,' he said in scorn:
'For nigh at hand there blooms a bride,
My bride before the morn;
Ripe-blooming she, as thou forlorn.
Ripe-blooming she, my rose, my peach;
She woos me day and night:
I watch her tremble in my reach;
She reddens, my delight,
She ripens, reddens in my sight.'

'And is she like a sunlit rose?
Am I like withered leaves?
Haste where thy spiced garden blows:
But in bare Autumn eves
Wilt thou have store of harvest sheaves?
Thou leavest love, true love behind,
To seek a love as true;
Go, seek in haste: but wilt thou find?
Change new again for new;
Pluck up, enjoy—yea, trample too.

'Alas for her, poor faded rose,
Alas for her her, like me,
Cast down and trampled in the snows.'
'Like thee? nay, not like thee:
She leans, but from a guarded tree.
Farewell, and dream as long ago,
Before we ever met:
Farewell; my swift-paced horse seems slow.'
She raised her eyes, not wet
But hard, to Heaven: 'Does God forget?'

poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Restin Bones

Came up on a worried man, asked him if he had a light.
He reached on down, dug in his shoe, figured in his sock he might.
He asked if he could come and join, at what we was partakin in.
I says,ol soul if you got a match, you also got yourself a friend.
The smoke drew hard but laid in good, the neon gave us extra shine.
We passed around a flask of knockando, and a half litre bottle of wine.
The worried man dropped down to his knees, and let out with a somber groan.
He looked up to me and when I asked, he said,Im just restin my bones.
I looked down at him, and him up at me, then a smile rose above his chin.
He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me down, said, listen to me now my friend.
When I was your age I did it all, more than many men could do,
Now my possessions are the ones I wear on my back, and this lighter I keep in my shoe.
Thats why Im restin my bones.
Im restin my bones for the times I fell, fell and hit myself on the ground.
Restin my bones for the loneliness, of being the only genius around.
Im restin my bones for prosperity, in hopes that itll do me some good.
Im restin bones from amphetamines, see they turned teeth to balsa wood.
Im restin bones for johnny cash, cause for me and mine hes wearin black.
Ill be restin my bones for elvis, I seen him last week at the track.
If Im restin bones and you come along, just try and tippy toe on by.
cause when Im restin bones I hope to sleep, and maybe slip away and die.

song performed by by Primus
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Shook Me

Written by: w. dixon
You know you shook me. you shook me all night long. - x2
You shook me so hard baby. baby, baby, please come home.
I have a bird that whistles and I have birds that sing. - x2
I have a baby, wont do nothing ...oh, buy a diamond ring.
I said you shook me, baby. you shook me all night long. -x2
You shook me so hard, baby. you shook me all night long.

song performed by by Black Crowes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Garden Gate (Somewhere In Fantsayland)

I met you at the garden gate,
One summer evening, getting
late.

You handed me a rose, so sweet,
Dropped a petal at my feet.

Lifted me into your stare,
We were so young, just standing
there.

You asked me, return someday,
When we are older, look my way.

Many years have come and gone,
I returned to sing our song.

You picked a rose for my hair,
Roses started our love affair.

poem by Heather Burns
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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When Am I Going To Rest

When am I going to rest?
When I'm going to fetch water
You are on my back
When I'm going to fetch firewood
You are on my back
Oh! When am I going to rest?

When am I going to rest?
When I want to rest
You are on my breast
Suckling like a calf
Yet you have little sharpened teeth
I can even scream if you bite my breast.

All you know is to wee wee, eat and cry
Without giving me time to rest
To my breast
You are the pest
Applying pepper might be a pest control
But still I will not rest
Because there is much to do for you
Perhaps death will be my rest.

poem by Walani Ndhlovu
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Honest Goodbyes

Sink with the tide
Rescue me if you like
I'll be leaving it all up to you
Think how we tried
It's o.k. to be lied to
As long as it's only by you

People say to me it's best that we've parted
'Cause you know I'm better alone
Don't explain to me how you're so broken hearted
I'm too busy mending my own

Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
They work once or twice
Then the rest must be lies

Late ever night the colours fade from the sky
And the music is gone from the moon
Standing in line for what used to be mine
What use is the rhyme with no tune

People say to me it's best that we've parted
And nothing is carved out in stone
It's such a shame how we're back where we started
It's late now and time that we go

Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
They work once or twice
Then the rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies

song performed by by Bic Runga from Beautiful Collision
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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(I Still Long To Hold You) Now And Then

(Jerry Fuller)
I see you now, I think of then
And dwell upon the happiness of way back when
Cause since you said goodbye
The feelings just won't die
And I still long to hold you now and then
A million years have come and gone
And I was sure by now I'd make it on my own
But seeing you today
Took my breath away
And I still long to hold you now and then
Suddenly I felt myself wondering
If you might wanna try it again
And though I wanted so much to hold you
You smiled and shook my hand
So I'll exist on dreams again
On days when we were lovers and not just friends
And even if I find another love in time
I still long to hold you now and then
Oh, I still long to hold you now and then

song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Now And Then

(jerry fuller)
I see you now, i think of then
And dwell upon the happiness of way back when
Cause since you said goodbye
The feelings just won't die
And i still long to hold you now and then
A million years have come and gone
And i was sure by now i'd make it on my own
But seeing you today
Took my breath away
And i still long to hold you now and then
Suddenly i felt myself wondering
If you might wanna try it again
And though i wanted so much to hold you
You smiled and shook my hand
So i'll exist on dreams again
On days when we were lovers and not just friends
And even if i find another love in time
I still long to hold you now and then
Oh, i still long to hold you now and then

song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Now & Then

(jerry fuller)
I see you now, I think of then
And dwell upon the happiness of way back when
Cause since you said goodbye
The feelings just wont die
And I still long to hold you now and then
A million years have come and gone
And I was sure by now Id make it on my own
But seeing you today
Took my breath away
And I still long to hold you now and then
Suddenly I felt myself wondering
If you might wanna try it again
And though I wanted so much to hold you
You smiled and shook my hand
So Ill exist on dreams again
On days when we were lovers and not just friends
And even if I find another love in time
I still long to hold you now and then
Oh, I still long to hold you now and then

song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The spoor

We were flown in
by a Puma helicopter
hot on the tracts
of a group of terrorists
who had attacked some farms.

A Bushman tracker was in the front
on the spoor, armed with a old R1,
two of the section
was armed with LMG’s
and I carried the a short barrel R5
and it was very hot
under a merciless sun.

The tracker told us
that one of the enemy
was wounded and at places
we saw drops of blood
and it looked
as if he was dragging his leg
in the way that he walked.

The going was fast
as we didn’t want to let them pass
the chop line back into Angola
and we were at a jog.

Suddenly in the distance
there was a firefight
and some shots rang out
sounding like AK-47’s
and locking our weapons
we hastened,

not knowing if another patrol
or who or what
had run into the enemy.

When got on the scene
the wounded terrorist was dead
trampled by a African Buffalo
who gored him
before setting on its enemy’s tracts.

He was left behind
by the group
who had come across an African Buffalo
and had fired at it,
only wounding that black beast
and had run away in the front of it.

The Bushman smiled and shook his head
laughing because of the actions
of the stupid terrorists
and we were hot on the tracks
of the Buffalo

following through a rocky dried out wadi
past some bushes
and into longer grass
when suddenly the eyes of the tracker
went huge as saucers
and he turned around
stumbled past me
and dropped his gun
on the ground right
next to me
running as if for his life.

This was quite awkward
seeing a man run
who had fought numerous
firefights with me
without a whimper of fear
now running as if
the devil himself
was on his heels
but the Buffalo
had turned around
on its tracks.

I saw that African beast
with eyes glaring almost red
and nostrils wide open
and horns lowered
and knew that my rifle
wouldn’t stop it
and if I didn’t I would be dead,
but the R1 would probably
since its larger full metal jacket bullets
could rip right through trees.

It must have been the quickest
that I have ever
picked up a gun
exchanging it for mine
bringing it to my shoulder
and started firing
and I could scarcely
believe my luck
when that buffalo bull
dropped there at my feet.

[References: R1= A rifle similar to the Belgian FN. R4= A rifle similar to the Israeli Gaelil. R5= a Shorter barrelled version of the R4 with folding stock, sometimes used by paratroopers and other special force soldiers. LMG= Light Machinegun. Chop line= Cleared aria on the border between South West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola.]

poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Goody Blake and Harry Gill

Oh! what's the matter? what's the matter?
What is't that ails young Harry Gill?
That evermore his teeth they chatter,
Chatter, chatter, chatter still!
Of waistcoats Harry has no lack,
Good duffle grey, and flannel fine;
He has a blanket on his back,
And coats enough to smother nine.

In March, December, and in July,
'Tis all the same with Harry Gill;
The neighbours tell, and tell you truly,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
At night, at morning, and at noon,
'Tis all the same with Harry Gill;
Beneath the sun, beneath the moon,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still!

Young Harry was a lusty drover,
And who so stout of limb as he?
His cheeks were red as ruddy clover;
His voice was like the voice of three.
Old Goody Blake was old and poor;
Ill fed she was, and thinly clad;
And any man who passed her door
Might see how poor a hut she had.

All day she spun in her poor dwelling:
And then her three hours' work at night,
Alas! 'twas hardly worth the telling,
It would not pay for candle-light.
Remote from sheltered village-green,
On a hill's northern side she dwelt,
Where from sea-blasts the hawthorns lean,
And hoary dews are slow to melt.

By the same fire to boil their pottage,
Two poor old Dames, as I have known,
Will often live in one small cottage;
But she, poor Woman! housed alone.
'Twas well enough when summer came,
The long, warm, lightsome summer-day,
Then at her door the 'canty' Dame
Would sit, as any linnet, gay.

But when the ice our streams did fetter,
Oh then how her old bones would shake!
You would have said, if you had met her,
'Twas a hard time for Goody Blake.
Her evenings then were dull and dead:
Sad case it was, as you may think,
For very cold to go to bed;
And then for cold not sleep a wink.

O joy for her! whene'er in winter
The winds at night had made a rout;
And scattered many a lusty splinter
And many a rotten bough about.
Yet never had she, well or sick,
As every man who knew her says,
A pile beforehand, turf or stick,
Enough to warm her for three days.

Now, when the frost was past enduring,
And made her poor old bones to ache,
Could any thing be more alluring
Than an old hedge to Goody Blake?
And, now and then, it must be said,
When her old bones were cold and chill,
She left her fire, or left her bed,
To seek the hedge of Harry Gill.

Now Harry he had long suspected
This trespass of old Goody Blake;
And vowed that she should be detected--
That he on her would vengeance take.
And oft from his warm fire he'd go,
And to the fields his road would take;
And there, at night, in frost and snow,
He watched to seize old Goody Blake.

And once, behind a rick of barley,
Thus looking out did Harry stand:
The moon was full and shining clearly,
And crisp with frost the stubble land.
--He hears a noise--he's all awake--
Again?--on tip-toe down the hill
He softly creeps--'tis Goody Blake;
She's at the hedge of Harry Gill!

Right glad was he when he beheld her:
Stick after stick did Goody pull:
He stood behind a bush of elder,
Till she had filled her apron full.
When with her load she turned about,
The by-way back again to take;
He started forward, with a shout,
And sprang upon poor Goody Blake.

And fiercely by the arm he took her,
And by the arm he held her fast,
And fiercely by the arm he shook her,
And cried, "I've caught you then at last!"--
Then Goody, who had nothing said,
Her bundle from her lap let fall;
And, kneeling on the sticks, she prayed
To God that is the judge of all.

She prayed, her withered hand uprearing,
While Harry held her by the arm--
"God! who art never out of hearing,
O may he never more be warm!" 0
The cold, cold moon above her head,
Thus on her knees did Goody pray;
Young Harry heard what she had said:
And icy cold he turned away.

He went complaining all the morrow
That he was cold and very chill:
His face was gloom, his heart was sorrow,
Alas! that day for Harry Gill!
That day he wore a riding-coat,
But not a whit the warmer he:
Another was on Thursday brought,
And ere the Sabbath he had three.

'Twas all in vain, a useless matter,
And blankets were about him pinned;
Yet still his jaws and teeth they clatter;
Like a loose casement in the wind.
And Harry's flesh it fell away;
And all who see him say, 'tis plain,
That, live as long as live he may,
He never will be warm again.

No word to any man he utters,
A-bed or up, to young or old;
But ever to himself he mutters,
"Poor Harry Gill is very cold."
A-bed or up, by night or day;
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
Now think, ye farmers all, I pray,
Of Goody Blake and Harry Gill!

poem by William Wordsworth
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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