Anonymous

She lay all naked in her bed, And I myself lay by; No veil but curtains about her spread, No covering but I: Her head upon her shoulders seeks To hang in careless wise, And full of blushes was her cheeks, And of wishes were her eyes. Her blood still fresh into her face, As on a message came, To say that in another place It meant another game; Her cherry lip moist, plump, and fair, Millions of kisses crown, Which ripe and uncropped dangle there, And weigh the branches down. Her breasts, that welled so plump and high Bred pleasant pain in me, For all the world I do defy The like felicity; Her thighs and belly, soft and fair, To me were only shown: To have seen such meat, and not to have eat, Would have angered any stone. Her knees lay upward gently bent, And all lay hollow under, As if on easy terms, they meant To fall unforced asunder; Just so the Cyprian Queen did lie, Expecting in her bower; When too long stay had kept the boy Beyond his promised hour. ‘Dull clown,’ quoth she, ‘why dost delay such proffered bliss to take? Canst thou find out no other way Similitudes to make?’ Mad with delight I thundering Throw my arms about her, But pox upon’t ’twas but a dream. And so I lay without her.

We have a secret, just we three, The robin, and I, and the sweet cherry-tree; The bird told the tree, and the tree told me, And nobody knows it but just us three. But of course the robin knows it best, Because she built the—I shan't tell the rest; And laid the four little—something in it— I'm afraid I shall tell it every minute. But if the tree and the robin don't peep, I'll try my best the secret to keep; Though I know when the little birds fly about Then the whole secret will be out.

I've got a rocket In my pocket; I cannot stop to play. Away it goes! I've burned my toes. It's Independence Day.

Release, please, this bound one by the power of your right hand. Receive the song of your people, exalt us, Lord, and make us pure. Almighty one, protect those who seek your oneness: Bless them and cleanse them—bestow upon them your merciful justice. Mighty one, holy one, in your goodness guide your assembly. Turn, sole one on high, to those who remember your sanctity, and accept our cry and plea— You who fathom all mysteries.

Quick!   quick! The cat's been sick. Where?   where? Under the chair. Hasten!   hasten! Fetch the basin. Alack!   alack! It is too late, The carpet's in An awful state. No!   no! It's all in vain, For she has licked it Up again.

Poor old lady, she swallowed a fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Poor old lady, I think she'll die. Poor old lady, she swallowed a spider. It squirmed and wriggled and turned inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Poor old lady, I think she'll die. Poor old lady, she swallowed a bird. How absurd!   She swallowed a bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Poor old lady, I think she'll die. Poor old lady, she swallowed a cat. Thank of that!   She swallowed a cat. She swallowed the cat to catch the bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Poor old lady, I think she'll die. Poor old lady, she swallowed a dog. She went the whole hog when she swallowed the dog. She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Poor old lady, I think she'll die. Poor old lady, she swallowed a cow. I don't know how she swallowed a cow. She swallowed the cow to catch the dog, She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Poor old lady, I think she'll die. Poor old lady, she swallowed a horse. She died, of course.

Phoebus was gone, all gone, his journey over. His sister was riding high: nothing bridled her. Her light was falling, shining into woods and rivers. Wild animals opened their jaws wide, stirred to prey. But in the human world all was sleep, pause, relaxation, torpor. One night, in an April which had just gone by, The likeness of my love stood beside me suddenly. He called my name so quietly. He touched me gently. His voice was drowning in tears. It failed completely. His sighs overwhelmed him. Finally, he could not speak clearly. I shuddered at his touch. I felt the fear of it. I trembled as if I knew the true terror of it. I opened my arms wide and pressed him against my body. Then I froze: I was ice, all ice. My blood drained into it. He had fled. Here was my embrace—and there was nothing in it. Fully awake now, I cried out loudly: "Where are you fleeing to? Why are you rushing away? Wait, wait for me. If you want, I can enter there. Because the truth is, I want to live with you forever." But soon I regretted it—that I had spoken out this way. And all the time, the windows of the terrace had been wide open. The light of the moon poured down; its beauty, its radiance. And I grieved and grieved. I grieved for so long. The tears flowed down my cheeks: tributaries of tears. It was a whole day before I could stop weeping.

I 1 Pearl, the precious prize of a king, Chastely set in cherished gold, In all the East none equalling, No peer to her could I behold. So round, so rare, a radiant thing, So smooth she was, so small of mold, Wherever I judged gems glimmering I set her apart, her price untold. Alas, I lost her in earth’s green fold; Through grass to the ground, I searched in vain. I languish alone; my heart grows cold For my precious pearl without a stain. 2 Since in that spot it slipped from me, I lingered, longing for that delight That from my sins once set me free And my happiness raised to the highest height. Her going wounds me grievously; It burns my breast both day and night. Yet I never imagined a melody So sweet as she, so brief, and slight. But memory flowed through my mind’s sight: I thought how her color in clods had lain O dust that dims what once was bright, My precious pearl without a stain. 3 Rare spices on that spot must spread: Such riches there to rot have run, Blooms of yellow and blue and red, Their sheen a shimmer against the sun, Flower and fruit nor faded nor dead, Where the pearl dropped down in mouldering dun; Each grass from a lifeless grain is bred, Else to harvest no wheat were won: Always from good is good begun. So seemly a seed could not die in vain, That sprig nor spice there would be none Of that precious pearl without a stain. 4 To the spot which I in speech portray, I entered in that arbor green, In August on a holy day, When the corn is cut with sickles keen. On the little rise where my pearl rolled away, The fairest flowers formed a screen: Gillyflower, ginger, gromwell spray, With peonies powdered in between. If they were seemly to be seen, Far sweeter the scents from that domain, More worthy her dwelling, well I ween, My precious pearl without a stain. 5 I mourned, hands clenched, before that mound, For the piercing cold of grief had caught Me in the doleful dread and bound My heart, though reason solace sought. I longed for my pearl, locked in the ground, While fierce contentions in me fought. In Christ, though comfort could be found, My wretched will was still distraught. I fell upon that flowery plot. Such odors eddied in my brain, To sudden slumber I was brought By that precious pearl without a stain.

A peanut sat on a railroad track, His heart was all a-flutter. The five-fifteen came rushing by-- Toot toot!   Peanut butter!

Peace be upon you— ministering angels, angels of heaven— from the King who is king of all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He; in peace be your coming— angels of peace, angels of heaven— from the King who is king of all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. Bless me with peace— angels of peace, angels of heaven— from the King who is king of all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, in peace be your leaving— angels of peace, angels of heaven, from the King who is king of all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.