Short Poems

The juice of bitter herbs has
more taste than any meat.
My small grass hut is
a fitting abode for me.
But my longing for my lord
chokes me with grief.

In eighteen hundred and thirty seven
Fair Victoria became our Queen:
May her reign by the grace of heaven
Still be prosp'rous and serene.

In eighteen hundred and thirty the realm
William the Fourth to rule was sent;
Then Earl Grey was at the helm,—
Gave us reform of Parliament.

It happed in thousand eight hundred and twenty
That George the Fourth was King enthroned:
Peace we had but strife in plenty
When the King his Queen disowned.
The Cato Street plot affrighted the nation
Ere a month of his reign was past;
The Romanists gained emancipation
The year before he breathed his last.

It happed in one thousand eight hundred and ten
His son as Regent began to reign;
Great was the pride of Englishmen
When Wellington triumphed on Waterloo's plain.

One thousand seven hundred and sixty A.D.
George the Third, his grandson reigned;
A true born Englishman was he
And stoutly England's cause maintained.
Th'Americas long his mind distressed;
They for their freedom boldly stirred;
While England foreign foes suppressed
Reason forsook poor George the Third.

One thousand six hundred and eighty nine
William and Mary both were crowned.
The virtues of Mary brightly shine
And William's vict'ries were renowned.

One thousand six hundred and eighty five
James the Second took kingly state:
He chose for his Popish faith to strive
And so was obliged to abdicate,
In the famed Revolution of eighty eight.

In sixteen hundred and sixty we find
The crown restored to Charles the Second;
A Prince to pleasure much inclined,
Who witty more than wise was reckoned.

One thousand six hundred and forty nine
Cromwell rose to be England's head:
‘They who against the Lion combine
Suffer a Wolf’, say some, ‘in his stead’.
Others account him a hero fine:
Though discontent around him spread:
His ends were good, as they opine,
Whate'er of his sterner deeds be said.