EDWARD THOMAS 1878-1917

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THE OWL

Downhill I came, hungry, and yet not starved, 

Cold, yet had heat within me that was proof 

Against the north wind; tired, yet so that rest 

Had seemed the sweetest thing under a roof.

Then at the inn I had food, fire, and rest, 

Knowing how hungry, cold, and tired was I. 

All of the night was quite barred out except 

An owl's cry, a most melancholy cry.

Shaken out long and clear upon the hill 

No merry note, nor cause of merriment, 

But one telling me plain what I escaped 

And others could not, that night, as in I went.

And salted was my food, and my repose, 

Salted and sobered too, by the bird's voice 

Speaking for all who lay under the stars, 

Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice. 

British poet, essayist and novelist, Edward Thomas enlisted in the British Army to fight in the First World War and was killed in action in 1917 soon after he arrived in France.

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LANGSTON HUGHES 1902-67

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HOLD FAST TO DREAMS

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams 

For when dreams go 

Life is a barren field 

Frozen with snow.  

This American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright and columnist was one of the earliest poets to experiment with jazz poetry.

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OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II 1895-196O

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ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE

Time and again I've longed for adventure,

Something to make my heart beat the faster.

What did I long for? I never really knew.

Finding your love I've found my adventure,

Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster,

All that I want in all of this world is you.

You are the promised kiss of springtime

That makes the lonely winter seem long.

You are the breathless hush of evening

That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.

You are the angel glow that lights a star,

The dearest things I know are what you are.

Some day my happy arms will hold you,

And some day I'll know that moment divine,

When all the things you are, are mine!

Oscar Hammerstein was an American librettist, theatrical producer and theatre director of musicals. He collaborated with many well-known composers including Richard Rodgers. Together they wrote perhaps the most  famous of all musicals, The Sound of Music.

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WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS 1865-1939

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DOWN BY THE SALLEY GARDENS

Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;

She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;

But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.

In a field by the river my love and I did stand,

And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;

But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.  

The Irish poet W. B. Yeats was one of the leading figures of 20th century literature. In his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms. 

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ELLA WHEELER WILCOX 1850-1919

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TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE

There are two kinds of people on earth to-day;

Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,

The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,

You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,

Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years

Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No - the two kinds of people on earth I mean,

Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the earth's masses,

Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,

There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load,

Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share

Your portion of labour, and worry and care?

The best-known work by this America poet is "Poems of Passion". She is remembered for the famous lines "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone" which are found in "Solitude."

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THOMAS HOOD 1789-1845

FLOWERS

I will not have the mad Clytie*,

Whose head is turned by the sun;

The tulip is a courtly queen,

Whom, therefore, I will shun;

The cowslip is a country wench,

The violet is a nun; -

But I will woo the dainty rose,

The queen of everyone.

The pea is but a wanton witch,

In too much haste to wed,

And clasps her rings on every hand

The wolfsbane I should dread; -

Nor will I dreary rosemary

That always mourns the dead; -

But I will woo the dainty rose,

With her cheeks of tender red.

The lily is all in white, like a saint,

And so is no mate for me -

And the daisy's cheek is tipped with blush,

She is of such low degree;

Jasmine is sweet, and has many loves,

And the broom's betrothed to the bee; -

But I will plight with the dainty rose,

For fairest of all is she.

*In Greek mythology Clytie was a nymph who was turned into a sunflower.

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LEWIS CARROLL (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) 1832-98

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DISILLUSIONED

I painted her a gushing thing, 

With years about a score; 

I little thought to find they were 

At least a dozen more; 

My fancy gave her eyes of blue, 

A curly auburn head: 

I came to find the blue a green, 

The auburn turned to red. 

She boxed my ears this morning, 

They tingled very much; 

I own that I could wish her 

A somewhat lighter touch; 

And if you ask me how 

Her charms might be improved, 

I would not have them added to, 

But just a few removed! 

She has the bear's ethereal grace, 

The bland hyena's laugh, 

The footstep of the elephant, 

The neck of a giraffe; 

I love her still, believe me, 

Though my heart its passion hides; 

"She's all my fancy painted her,

But oh! how much besides!

 This English writer, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon, and photographer is famous as the writer of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

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