Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OLD RALPH RANSOME'S HONEYDEW, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OLD RALPH RANSOME'S HONEYDEW, by                    
First Line: Odl ralph ransome sailed the sea
Last Line: The apothesis this / of ralph ransome's honeydew
Subject(s): Smoking; Tobacco;pipes;cigars;cigarettes


Old Ralph Ransom sailed the sea—
Sailed the whole vast ocean through—
And returning brought to me
These rare cakes of Honeydew.
Blessings on old Raleigh's head—
Though upon the block it fell—

For the knowledge he first spread
Of the herb I love so well!
'Tis a talisman defies
All that care and want can do
There are few things that I prize
Like Ralph Ransome's Honeydew!

Tell me not of lotos-plants—
How the lotos-eaters lay
Lazily in shady haunts
Dreaming all their time away!
There's a drowsier charm in this
Than in lotos;—if, indeed,
That same plant aught other is
Than the soothing Indian weed:—
Were it not, in truth then if
I were of Ulysses' crew,
I'd far rather have a whiff
Of Ralph Ransome's Honeydew!

Peace to old Ralph Ransome's bones
Wheresoever they are lain,
In some island of the zones,
In the distant Spanish main.
This Nepenthe which he brought,
Only careful memories ends—
Does not drown one kindly thought
Of my rarest of old friends.
As I muse thus, lapt in bliss,
Upwards floats the vapour blue—
The apotheosis this
Of Ralph Ransome's Honeydew!





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