THE Wisest of the wise Listen to pretty lies, And love to hear them told; Doubt not that Solomon Listened to many a one,— Some in his youth, and more when he grew old. I never sat among The choir of Wisdom’s song, But pretty lies loved I As much as any king,— When youth was on the wing, And (must it then be told?) when youth had quite gone by. Alas! and I have not The pleasant hour forgot, When one pert lady said,— “O Landor! I am quite Bewildered with affright; I see (sit quiet now!) a white hair on your head!” Another, more benign, Drew out that hair of mine, And in her own dark hair Pretended she had found That one, and twirled it round.— Fair as she was, she never was so fair.
The One White Hair
More from Poet
-
First bring me Raffael, who alone hath seen In all her purity heaven’s virgin queen, Alone hath felt true beauty; bring me then Titian, ennobler of the noblest men; And next the sweet Correggio, nor chastise His little Cupids for those wicked eyes. I want not Rubens’s pink puffy bloom, Nor...
-
There is delight in singing, though none hear Beside the singer; and there is delight In praising, though the praiser sit alone And see the praised far off him, far above. Shakespeare is not our poet, but the world’s, Therefore on him no speech! and brief for thee, Browning! Since Chaucer was...
-
The Dreamy rhymer’s measured snore Falls heavy on our ears no more; And by long strides are left behind The dear delights of womankind, Who wage their battles like their loves, In satin waistcoats and kid gloves, And have achieved the crowning work When they have trussed and skewered a Turk....
-
How many verses have I thrown Into the fire because the one Peculiar word, the wanted most, Was irrecoverably lost!
-
THE Wisest of the wise Listen to pretty lies, And love to hear them told; Doubt not that Solomon Listened to many a one,— Some in his youth, and more when he grew old. I never sat among The choir of Wisdom’s song, But pretty...