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Poems List
Explore poems from our collection
Rabindranath Tagore
Lover's Gifts V: I Would
Lover's Gifts V: I Would Ask For Still More
I would ask for still more, if I had the sky with all its stars,
and the world with its endless riches; but I would be content with
the smallest corner of this earth if only she were mine.
I would ask for still more, if I had the sky with all its stars,
and the world with its endless riches; but I would be content with
the smallest corner of this earth if only she were mine.
268
Ogden Nash
What's The Use? Sure,
What's The Use?
Sure, deck your limbs in pants,
Yours are the limbs, my sweeting.
You look divine as you advance . . .
Have you seen yourself retreating?
Sure, deck your limbs in pants,
Yours are the limbs, my sweeting.
You look divine as you advance . . .
Have you seen yourself retreating?
99
Ogden Nash
The Rhinoceros The rhino
The Rhinoceros
The rhino is a homely beast,
For human eyes he's not a feast.
Farwell, farewell, you old rhinoceros,
I'll stare at something less prepoceros.
The rhino is a homely beast,
For human eyes he's not a feast.
Farwell, farewell, you old rhinoceros,
I'll stare at something less prepoceros.
126
Ogden Nash
The Turtle The turtle
The Turtle
The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks
Which practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
such a fix to be so fertile.
The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks
Which practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
such a fix to be so fertile.
116
Ogden Nash
The Parent Children aren't
The Parent
Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,
And that's what parents were created for.
Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,
And that's what parents were created for.
95
Ogden Nash
The Perfect Husband He
The Perfect Husband
He tells you when you've got on
too much lipstick
And helps you with your girdle
when your hips stick.
He tells you when you've got on
too much lipstick
And helps you with your girdle
when your hips stick.
97
Ogden Nash
The Lion Oh, weep
The Lion
Oh, weep for Mr. and Mrs. Bryan!
He was eaten by a lion;
Following which, the lion's lioness
Up and swallowed Bryan's Bryaness.
Oh, weep for Mr. and Mrs. Bryan!
He was eaten by a lion;
Following which, the lion's lioness
Up and swallowed Bryan's Bryaness.
222
Ogden Nash
The Octopus Tell me,
The Octopus
Tell me, O Octopus, I begs
Is those things arms, or is they legs?
I marvel at thee, Octopus;
If I were thou, I'd call me Us.
Tell me, O Octopus, I begs
Is those things arms, or is they legs?
I marvel at thee, Octopus;
If I were thou, I'd call me Us.
156
Ogden Nash
The Firefly The firefly's
The Firefly
The firefly's flame
Is something for which science has no name
I can think of nothing eerier
Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a
person's posteerier.
The firefly's flame
Is something for which science has no name
I can think of nothing eerier
Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a
person's posteerier.
114
Ogden Nash
The Jellyfish Who wants
The Jellyfish
Who wants my jellyfish?
I'm not sellyfish!
Who wants my jellyfish?
I'm not sellyfish!
104
Ogden Nash
The Cuckoo Cuckoos lead
The Cuckoo
Cuckoos lead Bohemian lives,
They fail as husbands and as wives,
Therefore they cynically disparage
Everybody else's marriage.
Cuckoos lead Bohemian lives,
They fail as husbands and as wives,
Therefore they cynically disparage
Everybody else's marriage.
103
Ogden Nash
The Centipede I objurgate
The Centipede
I objurgate the centipede,
A bug we do not really need.
At sleepy-time he beats a path
Straight to the bedroom or the bath.
You always wallop where he's not,
Or, if he is, he makes a spot.
I objurgate the centipede,
A bug we do not really need.
At sleepy-time he beats a path
Straight to the bedroom or the bath.
You always wallop where he's not,
Or, if he is, he makes a spot.
128
Ogden Nash
The Cantaloupe One cantaloupe
The Cantaloupe
One cantaloupe is ripe and lush,
Another's green, another's mush.
I'd buy a lot more cantaloupe
If I possessed a fluoroscope.
One cantaloupe is ripe and lush,
Another's green, another's mush.
I'd buy a lot more cantaloupe
If I possessed a fluoroscope.
99
Ogden Nash
Samson Agonistes I test
Samson Agonistes
I test my bath before I sit,
And I'm always moved to wonderment
That what chills the finger not a bit
Is so frigid upon the fundament.
I test my bath before I sit,
And I'm always moved to wonderment
That what chills the finger not a bit
Is so frigid upon the fundament.
146
Ogden Nash
Grandpa Is Ashamed A
Grandpa Is Ashamed
A child need not be very clever
To learn that "Later, dear" means "Never."
A child need not be very clever
To learn that "Later, dear" means "Never."
105
Ogden Nash
Kipling's Vermont The summer
Kipling's Vermont
The summer like a rajah dies,
And every widowed tree
Kindles for Congregationalist eyes
An alien suttee.
The summer like a rajah dies,
And every widowed tree
Kindles for Congregationalist eyes
An alien suttee.
110
Ogden Nash
Family Court One would
Family Court
One would be in less danger
From the wiles of a stranger
If one's own kin and kith
Were more fun to be with.
One would be in less danger
From the wiles of a stranger
If one's own kin and kith
Were more fun to be with.
143
Ogden Nash
Biological Reflection A girl
Biological Reflection
A girl whose cheeks are covered with paint
Has an advantage with me over one whose ain't.
A girl whose cheeks are covered with paint
Has an advantage with me over one whose ain't.
110
Matsuo Basho
What fish feel What
What fish feel
What fish feel,
birds feel, I don't know--
the year ending.
Translated by Robert Hass
What fish feel,
birds feel, I don't know--
the year ending.
Translated by Robert Hass
225
Matsuo Basho
The dragonfly The dragonfly
The dragonfly
The dragonfly
can't quite land
on that blade of grass.
Translated by Robert Hass
The dragonfly
can't quite land
on that blade of grass.
Translated by Robert Hass
207
Mao Zedong
Militia Women Inscription on a
Militia Women Inscription on a Photograph
How bright and brave they look, shouldering five-foot rifles
On the parade ground lit up by the first gleams of day.
China's daughters have high-aspiring minds,
They love their battle array, not silks and satins.
How bright and brave they look, shouldering five-foot rifles
On the parade ground lit up by the first gleams of day.
China's daughters have high-aspiring minds,
They love their battle array, not silks and satins.
332
Matsuo Basho
Don't imitate me Don't
Don't imitate me
Don't imitate me;
it's as boring
as the two halves of a melon.
Translated by Robert Hass
Don't imitate me;
it's as boring
as the two halves of a melon.
Translated by Robert Hass
238
Jonathan Swift
Lines Written Extempore On Mr.
Lines Written Extempore On Mr. Harleyās Being Stabbed, And Addressed To
His Physician, 1710-11
On Britain Europe's safety lies,
Britain is lost if Harley dies:
Harley depends upon your skill:
Think what you save, or what you kill.
His Physician, 1710-11
On Britain Europe's safety lies,
Britain is lost if Harley dies:
Harley depends upon your skill:
Think what you save, or what you kill.
143
Khalil Gibran
Pain XVI Hi There!
Pain XVI
Hi There! I see you're enjoying the site, and just wanted to extend an invitiation to
register for our free site. The members of oldpoetry strive to make this a fun place to
learn and share - hope you join us! - Kevin
Hi There! I see you're enjoying the site, and just wanted to extend an invitiation to
register for our free site. The members of oldpoetry strive to make this a fun place to
learn and share - hope you join us! - Kevin
180