There's some so tall and fair and free,
Like policemen in their leisure times,
And some are like a wizened pea,
Some worth no more than twenty dimes.
But here's our sober view expressed,
We're three times better than the best,
We lads who barter rhymes.
WHO KNOWS ME?
Who knows me? None knows me.
I hobble on two blistered feet
Round the corner, down the street.
Now and then a child will cry,
Seeing a strange thing in my eye,
A Bogey Man, a Thing of Dread,
Stand from each eye in my head.
Now and then a baby 'll smile,
—But that's only once a while.
Boys of thirteen all throw stones
At my stiff and creaky bones.
Middle-aged people, fat and bright,
Shrug and sniff "It serves him right."
Round the corner, out of sight,
Down the Street, across the Night.
Who knows me? None knows me.
I am young and I am proud,
Strong as sun and pure as cloud.
All the five seas wash my veins
With stinging foam and swinging rains.
With the white stars I commune
In a silent spheric tune.
Who knows me? None knows me.
Only but a brown Bird,
Only but a little Child,
A little Child, a little Bird,
Only they know me.
JUDÆUS ERRANS
He hath no place to rest his head.
O happy nations, weep indeed.
He is forlorn till he be dead.
O pity him his wretched meed,
His wounds that bleed.
There is no resting in his eyes,
And he hath scars upon his feet.
He is a stranger to all skies.
He walks sad-eyed along the street,
And shadow-wise.
For with the dawn must he depart,
And with the sunset make his way.
All day he bears an aching heart,
All night his aching sorrows stay,
Yea, night and day.