Complete works of g k ch.., p.406
Complete Works of G K Chesterton,
p.406
Must I bawl lessons from a hom-book, howl,
Cat-call the cat-gut ‘fiddles’? Fiddlesticks!
After Walt Whitman.
Me clairvoyant,
Me conscious of you, old camarado,
Needing no telescope, lorgnette, field-glass, opera-glass, myopic
pince-nez,
Me piercing two thousand years with eye naked and not ashamed;
The crown cannot hide you from me;
Musty old feudal-heraldic trappings cannot hide you from me,
I perceive that you drink.
(I am drinking with you. I am as drunk as you are).
I see you are inhaling tobacco, puffing, smoking, spitting
(I do not object to your spitting),
You prophetic of American largeness,
You anticipating the broad masculine manners of these States;
I see in you also there are movements, tremors, tears, desire for
the melodious,
I salute your three violinists, endlessly making vibrations,
Rigid, relentless, capable of going on for ever;
They play my accompaniment; but I shall take no notice of any
accompaniment;
I myself am a complete orchestra.
So long.
After Swinburne.
In the time of old sin without sadness
And golden with wastage of gold
Like the gods that grow old in their gladness
Was the king that was glad, growing old:
And with sound of loud lyres from his palace
The voice of his oracles spoke,
And the lips that were red from his chalice
Were splendid with smoke.
When the weed was as flame for a token
And the wine was as blood for a sign;
And upheld in his hands and unbroken
The fountains of fire and of wine.
And a song without speech, without singer,
Stung the soul of a thousand in three
As the flesh of the earth has to sting her,
The soul of the sea.
A Ballad of Abbreviations
The American’s a hustler, for he says so,
And surely the American must know.
He will prove to you with figures why it pays so
Beginning with his boyhood long ago.
When the slow-maturing anecdote is ripest,
He’ll dictate it like a Board of Trade Report,
And because he has no time to call a typist,
He calls her a Stenographer for short.
He is never known to loiter or malinger,
He rushes, for he knows he has ‘a date’;
He is always on the spot and full of ginger,
Which is why he is invariably late.
When he guesses that it’s getting even later,
His vocabulary’s vehement and swift,
And he yells for what he calls the Elevator,
A slang abbreviation for a lift.
Then nothing can be nattier or nicer
For those who like a light and rapid style,
Than to trifle with a work of Mr Dreiser
As it comes along in waggons by the mile.
He has taught us what a swift selective art meant
By description of his dinners and all that,
And his dwelling, which he says is an Apartment,
Because he cannot stop to say a flat.
We may whisper of his wild precipitation,
That it’s speed is rather longer than a span,
But there really is a definite occasion
When he does not use the longest word he can.
When he substitutes, I freely make admission,
One shorter and much easier to spell;
If you ask him what he thinks of Prohibition,
He may tell you quite succinctly it is Hell.
A Song of Self-Esteem
The Simple Social Lifer is a harmless sort of elf,
He feeds a dog on mutton that he mustn’t eat himself.
I tolerate his sandals and his tresses long and lank,
I reverence his madness but I deprecate his Swank
O the Swank of the Crank in the future’s foremost rank,
And the child of all the ages there was nobody to spank.
He has told us all he means by his water and his beans
In a style that might be pardoned on the theory that he
drank.
The Banker is an expert on economy and strikes,
He uses all your money to do anything he likes;
And the usurer who uses it you’re called upon to thank
I do not mind the swindle but I do not like the swank.
O the Swank of the Bank and the cheque you give it -
For the ciyptic explanations when the rate of wages sank.
But I hope to see the fun when a Frenchman with a gun
Shall ask him what the devil he is doing with the Franc.
The Yankee is a dab at electricity and crime,
He tells you how he hustles and it takes him quite a time,
I like his hospitality that’s cordial and frank,
I do not mind his money but I do not like his swank.
O the Swank of the Yank on the Prohibition Plank,
O take the water-waggoner and drown him in the tank.
Since the Faith of Tennessee has wafted o’er the sea,
The odour of its sanctity - and Golly how it stank!
A Song of Moderation
They have said, the good and wise,
That it pays to advertise,
And it’s only right to speak with Moderation
Of a truth that stands so high,
Simply written on the sky,
Though perhaps with just a touch of ostentation.
The beers that are best known
Are not arsenic alone,
It is modified by salt and other things.
If you tell a waiter ‘And please
Will you bring some Gruyere cheese,’
You can trifle with the substance that he brings.
There’s a Port that you can drink,
And distinguish it from ink
By a something that’s not easy to define,
But not only from the poster
Of an after-dinner toaster
Who has drunk enough to talk of it as wine.
The Yankee car is slick.
Put together very quick.
When it comes apart with similar rapidity,
It will comfort you to know
It would take an hour or so
To make it with Victorian solidity.
For it pay to advertise,
And when the engine lies
On your stomach and the petrol’s in a blaze,
And the car lies round you wrecked,
You’ll have leisure to reflect
Upon whom it is exactly that it pays.
The Poems
‘Overroads’ in Grove Road, Beaconsfield, where Chesterton lived with his wife from 1909 till his death in 1936
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
A DEDICATION TO E.C.B.
THE ONENESS OF THE PHILOSOPHER WITH NATURE.
OF THE DANGERS ATTENDING ALTRUISM ON THE HIGH SEAS
MORAL
ON THE DISASTROUS SPREAD OF ÆSTHETICISM IN ALL CLASSES
ENVOY
BY THE BABE UNBORN
THE WORLD’S LOVER
THE SKELETON
A CHORD OF COLOUR
THE HAPPY MAN
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
A NOVELTY
ULTIMATE
THE DONKEY
THE BEATIFIC VISION
THE HOPE OF THE STREETS
ECCLESIASTES
THE SONG OF THE CHILDREN
THE FISH
GOLD LEAVES
THOU SHALT NOT KILL
A CERTAIN EVENING
A MAN AND HIS IMAGE
THE MARINER
THE TRIUMPH OF MAN
CYCLOPEAN
JOSEPH
MODERN ELFLAND
ETERNITIES
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
ALONE
KING’S CROSS STATION
THE HUMAN TREE
TO THEM THAT MOURN
THE OUTLAW
BEHIND
THE END OF FEAR
THE HOLY OF HOLIES
THE MIRROR OF MADMEN
E.C.B.
THE DESECRATERS
AN ALLIANCE
THE ANCIENT OF DAYS
THE LAST MASQUERADE
THE EARTH’S SHAME
VANITY
THE LAMP POST
THE PESSIMIST
A FAIRY TALE
A PORTRAIT
FEMINA CONTRA MUNDUM
TO A CERTAIN NATION
THE PRAISE OF DUST
THE BALLAD OF THE BATTLE OF GIBEON
VULGARISED
THE BALLAD OF GOD-MAKERS
AT NIGHT
THE WOOD-CUTTER
ART COLOURS
THE TWO WOMEN
THE WILD KNIGHT
THE WILD KNIGHT
GOOD NEWS
DEDICATION
BOOK I. THE VISION OF THE KING
BOOK II. THE GATHERING OF THE CHIEFS
BOOK III. THE HARP OF ALFRED
BOOK IV. THE WOMAN IN THE FOREST
BOOK V. ETHANDUNE: THE FIRST STROKE
BOOK VI. ETHANDUNE: THE SLAYING OF THE CHIEFS
BOOK VII. ETHANDUNE: THE LAST CHARGE
BOOK VIII. THE SCOURING OF THE HORSE
THREE DEDICATIONS
TO EDMUND CLERIHEW BENTLEY
TO HILAIRE BELLOC
TO M. E. W.
WAR POEMS
LEPANTO
THE MARCH OF THE BLACK MOUNTAIN 1913
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
THE WIFE OF FLANDERS
THE CRUSADER RETURNS FROM CAPTIVITY
LOVE POEMS
GLENCOE
LOVE’S TRAPPIST
CONFESSIONAL
MUSIC
THE DELUGE
THE STRANGE MUSIC
THE GREAT MINIMUM
THE MORTAL ANSWERS
A MARRIAGE SONG
BAY COMBE
RELIGIOUS POEMS
THE WISE MEN
THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS
A SONG OF GIFTS TO GOD
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
A HYMN FOR THE CHURCH MILITANT
THE BEATIFIC VISION
THE TRUCE OF CHRISTMAS
A HYMN
A CHRISTMAS SONG FOR THREE GUILDS
THE NATIVITY
A CHILD OF THE SNOWS
A WORD
RHYMES FOR THE TIMES
ANTICHRIST, OR THE REUNION OF CHRISTENDOM: AN ODE
THE REVOLUTIONIST: OR LINES TO A STATESMAN
THE SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL
THE HORRIBLE HISTORY OF JONES
THE NEW FREETHINKER
IN MEMORIAM P.D.
SONNET WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON
A SONG OF SWORDS
A SONG OF DEFEAT
SONNET
AFRICA
THE DEAD HERO
AN ELECTION ECHO 1906
THE SONG OF THE WHEELS
THE SECRET PEOPLE
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
LOST
BALLAD OF THE SUN
TRANSLATION FROM DU BELLAY
THE HIGHER UNITY
THE EARTH’S VIGIL
ON RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION
WHEN I CAME BACK TO FLEET STREET
A CIDER SONG
THE LAST HERO
BALLADES
BALLADE D’UNE GRANDE DAME
A BALLADE OF AN ANTI-PURITAN
A BALLADE OF A BOOK-REVIEWER
A BALLADE OF SUICIDE
A BALLADE OF THE FIRST RAIN
THE ENGLISHMAN
WINE AND WATER
THE SONG AGAINST GROCERS
THE ROLLING ENGLISH ROAD
THE SONG OF QUOODLE
PIONEERS, O PIONEERS
THE LOGICAL VEGETARIAN
THE SARACEN’S HEAD
THE GOOD RICH MAN
THE SONG AGAINST SONGS
ME HEART
THE SONG OF THE OAK
THE ROAD TO ROUNDABOUT
THE SONG OF THE STRANGE ASCETIC
THE SONG OF RIGHT AND WRONG
WHO GOES HOME?
TO F. C. IN MEMORIAM PALESTINE, ‘19
THE BALLAD OF ST. BARBARA
ELEGY IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD
THE SWORD OF SURPRISE
A WEDDING IN WAR-TIME
THE MYSTERY
THE MYTH OF ARTHUR
THE OLD SONG
THE TRINKETS
THE PHILANTHROPIST
ON THE DOWNS
THE RED SEA
FOR A WAR MEMORIAL
MEMORY
THE ENGLISH GRAVES
NIGHTMARE
A SECOND CHILDHOOD
MEDIÆVALISM
POLAND
THE HUNTING OF THE DRAGON
SONNET
FANTASIA
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
TO CAPTAIN FRYATT
FOR FOUR GUILDS
THE CONVERT
SONGS OF EDUCATION
GLORIA IN PROFUNDIS
UBI ECCLESIA
THE GRAVE OF ARTHUR
THE JUDGMENT OF ENGLAND
THE MONSTER
THE MODERN MANICHEE
THE PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY
BY A REACTIONARY
A BROAD MINDED BISHOP REBUKES
THE BATTLE OF THE STORIES (1915)
TO THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR
TO A LADY
THE WORLD STATE
THE OLD GENTLEMAN IN THE PARK
THE BURIED CITY
NAMESAKE
OUTLINE OF HISTORY
ON A PROHIBITIONIST POEM
THE MODERN MAGIC
LINES TO AN OLD PRO-BOER WHO ASKED FOR
THE APOLOGY OF BOTTOM THE WEAVER
THE NEW OMAR
AMERICANISATION
ALLITERATIVISM (1914)
RACE-MEMORY
A PATRIOTIC SONG
SOME WISHES AT XMAS
COMMERCIAL CANDOUR
HUMAN NATURE: OR MARCONI MEMORIES
THE PEACE OF PETROL
TO A HOLY ROLLER
THE NEW FICTION
ANSWERS TO THE POETS
VARIATIONS ON AN AIR: COMPOSED ON HAVING TO
A BALLAD OF ABBREVIATIONS
A SONG OF SELF-ESTEEM
A SONG OF MODERATION
LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
A-C D-F G-J K-P R-T U-Z
A BALLAD OF ABBREVIATIONS
A BALLADE OF A BOOK-REVIEWER
A BALLADE OF AN ANTI-PURITAN
A BALLADE OF SUICIDE
A BALLADE OF THE FIRST RAIN
A BROAD MINDED BISHOP REBUKES
A CERTAIN EVENING
A CHILD OF THE SNOWS
A CHORD OF COLOUR
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A CHRISTMAS SONG FOR THREE GUILDS
A CIDER SONG
A DEDICATION TO E.C.B.
A FAIRY TALE
A HYMN
A HYMN FOR THE CHURCH MILITANT
A MAN AND HIS IMAGE
A MARRIAGE SONG
A NOVELTY
A PATRIOTIC SONG
A PORTRAIT
A SECOND CHILDHOOD
A SONG OF DEFEAT
A SONG OF GIFTS TO GOD
A SONG OF MODERATION
A SONG OF SELF-ESTEEM
A SONG OF SWORDS
A WEDDING IN WAR-TIME
A WORD
AFRICA
ALLITERATIVISM (1914)
ALONE
AMERICANISATION
AN ALLIANCE
AN ELECTION ECHO 1906
ANSWERS TO THE POETS
ANTICHRIST, OR THE REUNION OF CHRISTENDOM: AN ODE
ART COLOURS
AT NIGHT
BALLAD OF THE SUN
BALLADE D’UNE GRANDE DAME
BALLADES
BAY COMBE
BEHIND
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
BOOK I. THE VISION OF THE KING
BOOK II. THE GATHERING OF THE CHIEFS
BOOK III. THE HARP OF ALFRED
BOOK IV. THE WOMAN IN THE FOREST
BOOK V. ETHANDUNE: THE FIRST STROKE
BOOK VI. ETHANDUNE: THE SLAYING OF THE CHIEFS
BOOK VII. ETHANDUNE: THE LAST CHARGE
BOOK VIII. THE SCOURING OF THE HORSE
BY A REACTIONARY
BY THE BABE UNBORN
COMMERCIAL CANDOUR
CONFESSIONAL
CYCLOPEAN
DEDICATION
E.C.B.
ECCLESIASTES
ELEGY IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD
ENVOY
ETERNITIES
FANTASIA
FEMINA CONTRA MUNDUM
FOR A WAR MEMORIAL
FOR FOUR GUILDS
GLENCOE
GLORIA IN PROFUNDIS
GOLD LEAVES
GOOD NEWS
HUMAN NATURE: OR MARCONI MEMORIES
IN MEMORIAM P.D.
JOSEPH
KING’S CROSS STATION
LEPANTO
LINES TO AN OLD PRO-BOER WHO ASKED FOR
LOST
LOVE POEMS
LOVE’S TRAPPIST
ME HEART
MEDIÆVALISM
MEMORY
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
MODERN ELFLAND
MORAL
MUSIC
NAMESAKE
NIGHTMARE
OF THE DANGERS ATTENDING ALTRUISM ON THE HIGH SEAS
ON A PROHIBITIONIST POEM
ON RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION
ON THE DISASTROUS SPREAD OF ÆSTHETICISM IN ALL CLASSES
ON THE DOWNS
OUTLINE OF HISTORY
PIONEERS, O PIONEERS
POLAND
RACE-MEMORY
RELIGIOUS POEMS
RHYMES FOR THE TIMES
SOME WISHES AT XMAS
SONGS OF EDUCATION
SONNET
SONNET
SONNET WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON
THE ANCIENT OF DAYS
THE APOLOGY OF BOTTOM THE WEAVER
THE BALLAD OF GOD-MAKERS
THE BALLAD OF ST. BARBARA
THE BALLAD OF THE BATTLE OF GIBEON
THE BATTLE OF THE STORIES (1915)
THE BEATIFIC VISION
THE BEATIFIC VISION
THE BURIED CITY
THE CONVERT
THE CRUSADER RETURNS FROM CAPTIVITY
THE DEAD HERO
THE DELUGE
THE DESECRATERS
THE DONKEY
