Classic and Contemporary Poetry
I'M NOT A POET NOW, by JAMES RYDER RANDALL Poet's Biography First Line: Lady dear, the living flame Last Line: I'm not a poet now! Subject(s): Poetry & Poets | ||||||||
LADY dear, the living flame Is ashes on my brow; My days are done, ere half begun I'm not a poet now! I never ask a pretty girl To roam beneath the moon, I never beg the deaf, deaf stars To sprinkle down a boon; I never write a sonnet, and I scorn to make a bow No use of so much fuss, I swear I'm not a poet now! I never babble of the sea, I much prefer a pool, I never try to steal a kiss I am not such a fool! I never read Anacréon Moore, Too trashy far, I vow; Lord Byron is a dreadful bore I'm not a poet now! I never flirt in coquette's eyes, With handkerchief or fan, I never squander dimes upon The hurdy-gurdy man; I'm curious in statistics of The anvil and the plow They know me at the calaboose I'm not a poet now! I never wander, like a loon, Amid the "shades of night" I hate your "charming solitudes," They give me such a fright; I like a squalling baby and Am partial to a row, Besides, I am getting very fat I'm not a poet now! When Mary sings Italian airs I lose my self-command, And wish her "Casta Diva" off To good old Dixie Land! When Sophie simpers for the dance, I swear I know not how Too big to play such monkey-pranks I'm not a poet now! I'm working on the principle That two and two make four Believe the soul of music's in The dray-wheels at the door; Would rather have a shilling piece Than Homer's laurel bough I'm in the pork and bacon line I'm not a poet now! In callow youth I churned my mind For happiness and fame, While sleep evoked the misty worlds Melodious with my name; But nevermore the dusty days Those fantasies allow: The cobwebs of the brain are gone I'm not a poet now! Lady dear, the living flame Is ashes on my brow; My days are done, ere half begun I'm not a poet now! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ENVY OF OTHER PEOPLE'S POEMS by ROBERT HASS THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AS A SONG by ROBERT HASS THE FATALIST: TIME IS FILLED by LYN HEJINIAN OXOTA: A SHORT RUSSIAN NOVEL: CHAPTER 192 by LYN HEJINIAN LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A POEM BRINGS by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA JUNE JOURNALS 6/25/88 by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA FOLLOW ROZEWICZ by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA HAVING INTENDED TO MERELY PICK ON AN OIL COMPANY, THE POEM GOES AWRY by HICOK. BOB JOHN PELHAM by JAMES RYDER RANDALL |
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