Christmas Holidays by Thomas Hood
Christmas Holidays by Thomas Hood Along the Woodford road there comes a noise Of wheels, and Mr. Rounding’s neat post-chaise Struggles along, drawn by a pair of bays, With Reverend Mr. Crow and six small boys, Who ever and anon declare their joys With trumping horns and juvenile huzzas, At going home to spend their […]
Autumn by Thomas Hood
Autumn by Thomas Hood I Saw old Autumn in the misty morn Stand shadowless like Silence, listening To silence, for no lonely bird would sing Into his hollow ear from woods forlorn, Nor lowly hedge nor solitary thorn;— Shaking his languid locks all dewy bright With tangled gossamer that fell by night, Pearling his coronet […]
Allegory by Thomas Hood
Allegory by Thomas Hood I had a gig-horse, and I called him Pleasure Because on Sundays for a little jaunt He was so fast and showy, quite a treasure; Although he sometimes kicked and shied aslant. I had a chaise, and christened it Enjoyment, With yellow body and the wheels of red, Because it was […]
A Lake And A Fairy Boat by Thomas Hood
A Lake And A Fairy Boat by Thomas Hood A lake and a fairy boat To sail in the moonlight clear, – And merrily we would float From the dragons that watch us here! Thy gown should be snow-white silk And strings of oriental pearls, Like gossamers dipped in milk, Should twine with thy raven […]
Your Last Drive by Thomas Hardy
Here by the moorway you returned, And saw the borough lights ahead That lit your face – all undiscerned To be in a week the face of the dead, And you told of the charm of that haloed view That never again would beam on you. And on your left you passed the spot Where […]
Without Ceremony by Thomas Hardy
It was your way, my dear, To be gone without a word When callers, friends, or kin Had left, and I hastened in To rejoin you, as I inferred. And when you’d a mind to career Off anywhere – say to town – You were all on a sudden gone Before I had thought thereon, […]
[Greek Title] by Thomas Hardy
Long have I framed weak phantasies of Thee, O Willer masked and dumb! Who makest Life become, – As though by labouring all-unknowingly, Like one whom reveries numb. How much of consciousness informs Thy will Thy biddings, as if blind, Of death-inducing kind, Nought shows to us ephemeral ones who fill But moments in Thy […]
Afterwards by Thomas Hardy
When the Present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay, And the May month flaps its glad green leaves like wings, Delicate-filmed as new-spun silk, will the neighbours say, ‘He was a man who used to notice such things’? If it be in the dusk when, like an eyelid’s soundless blink, The dewfall-hawk comes […]
A Broken Appointment by Thomas Hardy
You did not come, And marching Time drew on, and wore me numb. Yet less for loss of your dear presence there Than that I thus found lacking in your make That high compassion which can overbear Reluctance for pure lovingkindness’ sake Grieved I, when, as the hope-hour stroked its sum, You did not come. […]
polyphony_in_a_cathedral.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Polyphony In A Cathedral by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Polyphony In A Cathedral/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Music curlsbr /> In the stone shellsbr /> Of the arches, and ringsbr /> Their stone bells./p> p>Music lipsbr /> Each cold groovebr /> […]
one_almost_might.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>One Almost Might by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>One Almost Might/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Wouldn’t you say,br /> Wouldn’t you say: one day,br /> With a little more time or a little more patience, one mightbr /> Disentangle for separate, […]
nursery_rhyme_for_a_twenty_first_birthday.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Nursery Rhyme For A Twenty-First Birthday by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Nursery Rhyme For A Twenty-First Birthday/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>You cannot see the walls that divide your handbr /> From his or hers or mine when you think you […]
Not Love Perhaps
This is not Love perhaps – Love that lays down Its life, that many waters cannot quench, nor the floods drown, – But something written in lighter ink, said in a lower tone; Something perhaps especially our own: A need at times to be together and talk – And then the finding we […]
night_piece.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Night Piece by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Night Piece/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Climb, claim your shelf-room, farbr /> Packed from inquisitive moonbr /> And cold contagious stars./p> p>Lean out, but look no longer,br /> No further, than to stirbr /> […]
never.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Never by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Never/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Suddenly, desperatelybr /> I thought, “No, neverbr /> In millions of minutesbr /> Can I for one secondbr /> Calm-leaving my own selfbr /> Like clothes on a chair-backbr /> […]
music.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Music by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Music/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>This shape without space,br /> This pattern without stuff,br /> This stream without dimensionbr /> Surrounds us, flows through us,br /> But leaves no mark./p> p>This message without meaning,br /> […]
meeting.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Meeting by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Meeting/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Dogs take new friends abruptly and by smell,br /> Cats’ meetings are neat, tactual, caressive.br /> Monkeys exchange their fleas before they speak.br /> Snakes, no doubt, coil by coil […]
last_word_to_childhood.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Last Word To Childhood by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Last Word To Childhood/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Ice-cold fear has slowly decreasedbr /> As my bones have grown, my height increased.br /> Though I shiver in snow of dreams, I shall […]
june_sick_room.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>June Sick Room by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>June Sick Room/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>The birds’ shrill flutingbr /> Beats on the pink blind,br /> Pierces the pink blindbr /> At whose edge fumble the sun’sbr /> Fingers till one […]
houses.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Houses by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Houses/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>People who are afraid of themselvesbr /> Multiply themselves into familiesbr /> And so divide themselvesbr /> And so become less afraid./p> p>People who might have to go outbr /> […]
flight_of_stairs.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Flight Of Stairs by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Flight Of Stairs/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Stairs fly as straight as hawks;br /> Or else in spirals, curve out of curve, pausingbr /> At a ledge to poise their wings before relaunching.br […]
epitaph_on_a_disturber_of_his_times.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Epitaph On A Disturber Of His Times by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Epitaph On A Disturber Of His Times/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>We expected the violin’s finger on the upturned nerve;br /> Its importunate cry, too laxly curved:br /> And […]
Epitaph for Our Children
Blame us for these who were cradled and rocked in our chaos; Watching our sidelong watching, fearing our fear; Playing their blind-man’s-bluff in our gutted mansions, Their follow-my-leader on a stair that ended in air. Arthur Seymour John TessimondArthur Seymour John Tessimond (1902 -1962) was an English poet. He had a tumultuous childhood, ran from […]
empty_room.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Empty Room by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Empty Room/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>The clock disserts on punctuation, syntax.br /> The clock’s voice, thin and dry, asserts, repeats.br /> The clock insists: a lecturer demonstrating,br /> Loudly, with finger raised, when […]
earthfast.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Earthfast by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Earthfast/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Architects plant their imagination, weld their poems on rock,br /> Clamp them to the skidding rim of the world and anchor them down to its core;br /> Leave more than […]
don_juan.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Don Juan by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Don Juan/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Under the lips and limbs, the embraces, faces,br /> Under the sharp circumference, the brightness,br /> Under the fence of shadows,br /> Is something I am seeking;br /> […]
discovery.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Discovery by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Discovery/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>When you are slightly drunkbr /> Things are so close, so friendly.br /> The road asks to be walked upon,br /> The road rewards you for walkingbr /> With firm […]
day_dream.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Day Dream by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Day Dream/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>One day people will touch and talk perhapsbr /> easily,br /> And loving be natural as breathing and warm asbr /> sunlight,br /> And people will untie themselves, […]
cocoon_for_a_skeleton.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Cocoon For A Skeleton by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Cocoon For A Skeleton/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Clothes: to composebr /> The furtive, lonebr /> Pillar of bonebr /> To some repose./p> p>To let hands shirkbr /> Utterance behindbr /> A […]
cinema_screen.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Cinema Screen by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Cinema Screen/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Light’s patterns freeze:br /> Frost on our faces.br /> Light’s pollen siftsbr /> Through the lids of our eyes …/p> p>Light sinks and rustsbr /> In water; is […]
chaplin.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Chaplin by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Chaplin/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>The sun, a heavy spider, spins in the thirsty sky.br /> The wind hides under cactus leaves, in doorway corners. Only the wry/p> p>Small shadow accompanies Hamlet-Petrouchka’s march; the slightbr […]
Cats by Arthur Seymour John Tessimond
Cats by Arthur Seymour John Tessimond Cats no less liquid than their shadows Offer no angles to the wind. They slip, diminished, neat through loopholes Less than themselves; will not be pinned To rules or routes for journeys; counter Attack with non-resistance; twist Enticing through the curving fingers And leave an angered empty fist. […]
black_on_black.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Black On Black by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Black On Black/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Serrations of chimneysbr /> Stone-black perforatebr /> Velvet-black dark.br /> A tree coils in core of darkness.br /> My swingingbr /> Handsbr /> Incise the night.br […]
black_morning_lovesong.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Black Morning Lovesong by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Black Morning Lovesong/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>In love’s dances, in love’s dancesbr /> One retreats and one advances,br /> One grows warmer and one colder,br /> One more hesitant, one bolder.br /> […]
birch_tree.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Birch Tree by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Birch Tree/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>The birch tree in winterbr /> Leaning over the secret poolbr /> Is Narcissus in lovebr /> With the slight white branches,br /> The slim trunk,br /> In […]
betrayal.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Betrayal by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Betrayal/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>If a man says half himself in the light, adroitbr /> Way a tune shakes into equilibrium,br /> Or approximates to a note that never comes:/p> p>Says half himself in […]
bells_pool_and_sleep.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Bells, Pool And Sleep by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Bells, Pool And Sleep/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>Bells overbrim with soundbr /> And spread from cupolasbr /> Out through the shaking airbr /> Endless unbreaking circlesbr /> Cool and clear as […]
attack_on_the_ad_man.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Attack On The Ad-Man by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Attack On The Ad-Man/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>This trumpeter of nothingness, employedbr /> To keep our reason dull and null and void.br /> This man of wind and froth and flux […]
any_man_speaks.html
!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>Any Man Speaks by A. S. J. Tessimond/title> /div> h1 class=”pageTitle”>Any Man Speaks/h1> div class=”entry-content clearfix”> h2 class=”author”>by A. S. J. Tessimond/h2> div id=”content”> p>I, after difficult entry through my mother’s bloodbr /> And stumbling childhood (hitting my head against the world);br /> I, intricate, easily unshipped, untracked, unaligned;br /> […]
Who’s Who by W H Auden
A shilling life will give you all the facts: How Father beat him, how he ran away, What were the struggles of his youth, what acts Made him the greatest figure of his day; Of how he fought, fished, hunted, worked all night, Though giddy, climbed new mountains; named a sea; Some of the last […]