James Flecker
James Flecker
James Elroy Fleckerwas an English poet, novelist and playwright. As a poet he was most influenced by the Parnassian poets...
curiously men unwise
What would ye, ladies? It was ever thus. / Men are unwise and curiously planned.
anchored colder fleet seas stars west
West of these out to seas colder than the Hebrides I must go, / Where the fleet of stars is anchored and the young star-captains glow.
business man save soul worth
The poet's business is not to save the soul of man but to make it worth saving.
calm earth fast goes great lovers markets peace sea shut sunday
When the great markets by the sea shut fast / All that calm Sunday that goes on and on: / When even lovers find their peace at last,/ And Earth is but a star, that once had shone.
crew forgot great laughing lies lies-and-lying
And with great lies about his wooden horse/ Set the crew laughing and forgot his course.
night words
Read out my words at night, alone: I was a poet, I was young
few mirrors moon sea silver splendid stars strewn
A ship, an isle, a sickle moon - / With few but with how splendid stars / The mirrors of the sea are strewn / Between their silver bars.
burst deck leaves open rose ship vain watched
It was so old a ship - who knows, who knows? / And yet so beautiful, I watched in vain / To see the mast burst open with a rose / And the whole deck put on its leaves again.
asleep beyond call men sail seen ships swans village
I have seen old ships sail like swans asleep / Beyond the village which men still call Tyre.
flowers gardener gathered night
For one night or the other night / Will come the Gardener in white, and gathered flowers are dead, Yasmin.
gossip wide
For pines are gossip pines the wide world through.
beauty blood cold noon oxford statue strikes
Neon strikes on England, noon on Oxford town,Beauty she was statue cold - there's blood upon her gown.