I’m poor and quite unknown,I have neither fame nor rank;My labour is all I own,I have no gold at the bank;I’m one of the common crowd,Despised of the passers-by,Contemn’d of the rich and proud–Said I to myself, said I. I want, and I cannot obtain,The luxuries of the earth;My raiment is scant and plain,And I […]

1847. BEAUTIFUL Paris! morning star of nations!The Lucifer of cities, lifting highThe beacon blaze of young democracy!Medina and Gomorrha both in one–Medina of a high and holy creedTo be developed in a coming time!Gomorrha, rampant with all vice and guilt–Luxurious, godless, grovelling, soaring Paris,Laden with intellect, and yet not wise–Metropolis of satire and lampoon,Of wit, […]

I. If I were a voice, a persuasive voice,That could travel the wide world through,I would fly on the beams of the morning light,And speak to men with a gentle might,And tell them to be true.I’d fly, I’d fly, o’er land and sea,Wherever a human heart might be,Telling a tale, or singing a song,In praise […]

Ye who have scorned each other In this fast fading year, Or wronged a friend or brother, Come gather humbly here: Let sinned against and sinning Forget their strife’s beginning, Be links no longer broken Beneath the holly bough, Be sweet forgiveness spoken Beneath the holly bough. Ye who have loved each other In this […]