Short Poems

I saw old Duchesses with their young Loves,
I, in a pair of very shabby gloves;
Even my shapeless garments could not make me sad,
For I remembered I was young as you, dear Lad.
That I am lovelier without my dress,
Gave me sweet wanton happiness.

In Briareus hudge
Thaïs wish'd shee might change
Her man, and pray'd him herefore not to grudge,
Nor fondly thinke it strange:
For if, said shee, I might the parts dispose,
I wish you not an hundreth armes nor hands,
But hundreth things like those
With which Priapus in our garden stands.

When you lie with a woman, at least so girls say
You shit the same moment you come.
But what do you do, Polycharmus, I pray,
When a lover's stiff prick stops your bum?

Don't burn
the fields of Musashi!
At Asakusa
my spouse has renounced his faith
and so have I.

Oh, the anchor's aweigh, the anchor's aweigh, Farewell,
fare you well, my own true love. At last we parted on the
shore, As the tears rolled gently from her eyes. “Must you go leave me
now,” she did say, “That I face this all alone?” Oh, the

When Dido found Aeneas would not come,
She mourn'd in silence, and was Di-do-dum.

This smoky winter morning—
do not despise the green jewel shining among the twigs
because it is a traffic light.

GREEN , but far greener is the Faith
That gives us victory over death.
F RAGRANT , more fragrant far the H OPE
That buoys our dying spirits up.
E NDURING , but the C HARITY
That Masons teach will never die.

One's own lips are his heart's best enemies,
And their report True Love but faintly heeds:
O Friend, forget both words and silences,
And learn to read great love in little deeds!

Hier sieht man eine Sonn mit wunderbaren Strahlen,
Doch steht es dir nicht an, mit diesem Werk zu prahlen.
Mein ganz unschuldig Glas, das du im Zorn zerschellt,
Weist dir nun dein Gesicht zum Lasterbild entstellt.
Darum bedenk, o Mensch, sooft du dich rasierst,
Wie du mit Sanftmut dich im Lauf des Tages zierst.