haiku
stringlengths
5
2.3k
source
stringlengths
1
74
between the birk and the aik and the thorn he's laid his brother to lie forlorn and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
between the bent and the burn and the broom he's laid him to sleep till dawn of doom and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
he's tane him owre the waters wide afar to fleet and afar to bide and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
his hair was yellow his cheek was red when he set his face to the wind and fled and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
his banes were stark and his een were bright when he set his face to the sea by night and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
his cheek was wan and his hair was grey when he came back hame frae the wide world's way and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
his banes were weary his een were dim and nae man lived and had mind of him and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
o whatten a wreck wad they seek on land that they houk the turf to the seaward hand and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
o whatten a prey wad they think to take that they delve the dykes for a dead man's sake and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
o whatten a slayer is this they said that the straik of his hand should raise his dead and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
o weel is me for the sign i take that now i may die for my auld sin's sake and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
for the dead was in wait now fifty year and now shall i die for his blood's sake here and the wind wears owre the heather
img2poems
storm and shame and fraud and darkness fill the nations full with night hope and fear whose eyes yearn eastward have but fire and sword in sight one alone whose name is one with glory sees and seeks the light
img2poems
hellas mother of the spirit sole supreme in war and peace land of light whose word remembered bids all fear and sorrow cease lives again while freedom lightens eastward yet for sons of greece
img2poems
greece where only men whose manhood was as godhead ever trod bears the blind world witness yet of light wherewith her feet are shod freedom armed of greece was always very man and very god
img2poems
now the winds of old that filled her sails with triumph when the fleet bound for death from asia fled before them stricken wake to greet ships full-winged again for freedom toward the sacred shores of crete
img2poems
there was god born man the song that spake of old time said: and there man made even as god by trust that shows him nought too dire to dare now may light again the beacon lit when those we worship were
img2poems
sharp the concert wrought of discord shrills the tune of shame and death turk by christian fenced and fostered mecca backed by nazareth all the powerless powers tongue-valiant breathe but greed's or terror's breath
img2poems
though the tide that feels the west wind lift it wave by widening wave wax not yet to height and fullness of the storm that smites to save none shall bid the flood back seaward till no bar be left to brave
img2poems
in the sun-coloured mists of the sunrise and sunset that steam as incense from urns of the twilight her portals ajar let pass as a shadow the light of the sound of a dream
img2poems
the snake that felt thy heel upon her head night's first-born writhes as though she were not dead but strikes not stings not slays not as before
img2poems
the shadow shed round those we love shines bright as love's own face when death sleep's gentler twin from them divides us even as night from light
img2poems
his years were full: his years were joyous: why must love be sorrow when his gracious name recalls his lovely life of limb and eye
img2poems
a child's light hands whose touch makes flowers more fair keep fair as these for many a march and may the light of days that are because they were
img2poems
a babe's hands open as to greet the tender touch of ours and mock with motion faint and fleet
img2poems
what man would risk the danger twice nor quake from head to heel whom would not one such test suffice
img2poems
what heart of man dare hold the lists against such odds and such sweet vantage as no strength resists
img2poems
lo the cloud of his ships that crowd her channel's inlet with storm sublime darker far than the tempests are that sweep the skies of her northmost clime huge and dense as the walls that fence the secret darkness of unknown time
img2poems
squadrons proud as their lords and loud with tramp of soldiers and chant of priests slaves there told by the thousandfold made fast in bondage as herded beasts lords and slaves that the sweet free waves shall feed on satiate with funeral feasts
img2poems
full july in the fervent sky sets forth her twentieth of changing morns winds fall mild that of late waxed wild: no presage whispers or wails or warns far to west on the bland sea's breast a sailing crescent uprears her horns
img2poems
but the lord of darkness the god whose love is a flaming fire the master whose mercy fulfils wide hell till its torturers tire he shall surely have heed of his servants who serve him for love not hire
img2poems
they shall fetter the wing of the wind whose pinions are plumed with foam for now shall thy horn be exalted and now shall thy bolt strike home yea now shall thy kingdom come lord god of the priests of rome
img2poems
they shall cast thy curb on the waters and bridle the waves of the sea they shall say to her peace be still: and stillness and peace shall be and the winds and the storms shall hear them and tremble and worship thee
img2poems
thy breath shall darken the morning and wither the mounting sun and the daysprings frozen and fettered shall know thee and cease to run the heart of the world shall feel thee and die and thy will be done
img2poems
the spirit of man that would sound thee and search out causes of things shall shrink and subside and praise thee: and wisdom with plume-plucked wings shall cower at thy feet and confess thee that none may fathom thy springs
img2poems
the fountains of song that await but the wind of an april to be to burst the bonds of the winter and speak with the sound of a sea the blast of thy mouth shall quench them: and song shall be only of thee
img2poems
the days that are dead shall quicken the seasons that were shall return and the streets and the pastures of england the woods that burgeon and yearn shall be whitened with ashes of women and children and men that burn
img2poems
yea so shall thy kingdom be stablished and so shall the signs of it be and the world shall know and the wind shall speak and the sun shall see that these are the works of thy servants whose works bear witness to thee
img2poems
but the dusk of the day falls fruitless whose light should have lit them on sails flash through the gloom to shoreward eclipsed as the sun that shone and the west wind wakes with dawn and the hope that was here is gone
img2poems
around they wheel and around two knots to the spaniard's one the wind-swift warriors of england who shoot as with shafts of the sun with fourfold shots for the spaniard's that spare not till day be done
img2poems
and the wind with the sundown sharpens and hurtles the ships to the lee and spaniard on spaniard smites and shatters and yields and we ere battle begin stand lords of the battle acclaimed of the sea
img2poems
and the day sweeps round to the nightward and heavy and hard the waves roll in on the herd of the hurtling galleons and masters and slaves reel blind in the grasp of the dark strong wind that shall dig their graves
img2poems
for the sepulchres hollowed and shaped of the wind in the swerve of the seas the graves that gape for their pasture and laugh thrilled through by the breeze the sweet soft merciless waters await and are fain of these
img2poems
as the hiss of a python heaving in menace of doom to be they hear through the clear night round them whose hours are as clouds that flee the whisper of tempest sleeping the heave and the hiss of the sea
img2poems
but faith is theirs and with faith are they girded and helmed and shod invincible are they almighty elect for a sword and a rod invincible even as their god is omnipotent infinite god
img2poems
in him is their strength who have sworn that his glory shall wax not dim in his name are their war-ships hallowed as mightiest of all that swim the men that shall cope with these and conquer shall cast out him
img2poems
sixtus pope of the church whose hope takes flight for heaven to dethrone the sun philip king that wouldst turn our spring to winter blasted appalled undone prince and priest let a mourner's feast give thanks to god for your conquest won
img2poems
england hates thee as hell's own gates and england triumphs and rome bows down england mocks at thee england's rocks cast off thy servants to drive and drown england loathes thee and fame betroths and plights with england her faith for crown
img2poems
spain clings fast to thee spain aghast with anguish cries to thee where art thou spain puts trust in thee lo the dust that soils and darkens her prostrate brow spain is true to thy service who shall raise up spain for thy service now
img2poems
lords of night who would breathe your blight on april's morning and august's noon god your lord the condemned the abhorred sinks hellward smitten with deathlike swoon death's own dart in his hateful heart now thrills and night shall receive him soon
img2poems
god the devil thy reign of revel is here for ever eclipsed and fled god the liar everlasting fire lays hold at last on thee hand and head god the accurst the consuming thirst that burns thee never shall here be fed
img2poems
england queen of the waves whose green inviolate girdle enrings thee round mother fair as the morning where is now the place of thy foemen found still the sea that salutes us free proclaims them stricken acclaims thee crowned
img2poems
greed and fraud unabashed unawed may strive to sting thee at heel in vain craft and fear and mistrust may leer and mourn and murmur and plead and plain thou art thou: and thy sunbright brow is hers that blasted the strength of spain
img2poems
o hearts that strain and burn as fires fast fettered burn and strain bow down lie still and learn
img2poems
but heavens beyond us yearn yea heights of heaven above the sway of stars that eyes discern
img2poems
night sinks on the soul and the stars as they gleam speak menace or mourning with tongues to reprove us that we deemed of them better than terror may deem
img2poems
april made me: winter laid me here away asleep bright as maytime was my daytime night is soft and deep though the morrow bring forth sorrow well are ye that weep
img2poems
ye that held me dear beheld me not a twelvemonth long all the while ye saw me smile ye knew not whence the song came that made me smile and laid me here and wrought you wrong
img2poems
angels calling from your brawling world one undefiled homeward bade me and forbade me here to rest beguiled here i sleep not: pass and weep not here upon your child
img2poems
the love made strong with knowledge whence confirmed the whole soul takes assurance and the past lives present life and mingles first with last
img2poems
o mother where is my great green bed silk at the foot and gold at the head mother my mother
img2poems
she laid her cheek to the velvet and vair one with another she laid her arms up under her hair
img2poems
her gold hair fell through her arms fu' low one with another lord god bring me out of woe
img2poems
her gold hair fell in the gay reeds green one with another lord god bring me out of teen
img2poems
he kissed her down by her breast-flowers red one with another they were like river-flowers dead
img2poems
as all men's hearts grew godlike in one bird and all those hearts cried on thee crying with might hear us o mother night
img2poems
forgive me that with bitter words like his i mix the gentlest english name that is the tenderest held of all that know not death
img2poems
peace upon earth thou knewest not: now being dead rest with nor curse nor blessing on thine head where high-strung hate and strenuous envy cease
img2poems
first edition reprinted may
img2poems
oh never a doubt but somewhere i shall wake and give what's left of love again and make new friends now strangers
img2poems
where the first crocus buds unfold we found these petals near the cold swift river-bed
img2poems
beneath the rocks where ivy-frond puts forth new leaves to gleam beyond those lately dead
img2poems
never more will the wind cherish you again never more will the rain
img2poems
never more shall we find you bright in the snow and wind
img2poems
the snow is melted the snow is gone and you are flown
img2poems
like a bird out of our hand like a light out of our heart you are gone
img2poems
here in our wicker-trays we bring the first faint blossoming of fragrant bays
img2poems
(ah love so her fair breasts will shine with the faint shadow above
img2poems
from citron-bower be her bed cut from branch of tree a-flower fashioned for her maidenhead
img2poems
from lydian apples sweet of hue cut the width of board and lathe carve the feet from myrtle-wood
img2poems
let the palings of her bed be quince and box-wood overlaid with the scented bark of yew
img2poems
that all the wood in blossoming may calm her heart and cool her blood for losing of her maidenhood
img2poems
what of her mistress of death what of his kiss
img2poems
beauty is set apart from the islands and from greece
img2poems
in my garden even the wind-flowers lie flat broken by the wind at last
img2poems
what is rhodes crete what is paros facing west what white imbros
img2poems
flower sent to flower for white hands the lesser white less lovely of flower leaf
img2poems
can the spice-rose drip such acrid fragrance hardened in a leaf
img2poems
your lights are but dank shoals slate and pebble and wet shells and seaweed fastened to the rocks
img2poems
with the turn and grasp of your wrist and the chords' stretch there is a glint like worn brass
img2poems
life is a scavenger's pit i escape i only rejecting it lying here on this couch
img2poems
the house too was like this over painted over lovely the world is like this
img2poems
i have had enough border-pinks clove-pinks wax-lilies herbs sweet-cress
img2poems
treasure spilled near the shrub-pines to bleach on the boulders
img2poems
and the marsh dragged one back and another perished under the cliff and the tide swept you out
img2poems
you stood almost level with the lance-bearers and so slight
img2poems
you are clear o rose cut in rock hard as the descent of hail
img2poems
i could scrape the colour from the petals like spilt dye from a rock
img2poems
o wind rend open the heat cut apart the heat rend it to tatters
img2poems
i wondered at you i shouted dear mysterious beautiful white myrtle-flesh
img2poems