Gilbert Keith Chesterton - A Ballade of Suicide

Gilbert Keith Chesterton - A Ballade of Suicide

The gallows in my garden, people say, br Is new and neat and adequately tall; br I tie the noose on in a knowing way br As one that knots his necktie for a ball; br But just as all the neighbours--on the wall-- br Are drawing a long breath to shout "Hurray!" br The strangest whim has seized me. . . . After all br I think I will not hang myself to-day. br br To-morrow is the time I get my pay-- br My uncle's sword is hanging in the hall-- br I see a little cloud all pink and grey-- br Perhaps the rector's mother will not call-- I fancy that I heard from Mr. Gall br That mushrooms could be cooked another way-- br I never read the works of Juvenal-- br I think I will not hang myself to-day. br br The world will have another washing-day; br The decadents decay; the pedants pall; br And H.G. Wells has found that children play, br And Bernard Shaw discovered that they squall, br Rationalists are growing rational-- br And through thick woods one finds a stream astray br So secret that the very sky seems small-- br I think I will not hang myself to-day. br br Envoi br br Prince, I can hear the trumpet of Germinal, br The tumbrils toiling up the terrible way; br Even to-day your royal head may fall, br I think I will not hang myself to-day.


User: PoemHunter.com

Views: 10

Uploaded: 2014-11-07

Duration: 01:35

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