Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IX. Tragedy: Humor. 1904. | | | | Humorous Poems: IV. Ingenuities: Oddities | | Nocturnal Sketch | | Thomas Hood (1799–1845) |
| | Blank Verse in Rhyme
EVEN is come; and from the dark Park, hark, | |
| The signal of the setting sun—one gun! | |
| And six is sounding from the chime, prime time | |
| To go and see the Drury-Lane Dane slain,— | |
| Or hear Othello’s jealous doubt spout out,— | 5 |
| Or Macbeth raving at that shade-made blade, | |
| Denying to his frantic clutch much touch; | |
| Or else to see Ducrow with wide stride ride | |
| Four horses as no other man can span; | |
| Or in the small Olympic pit sit split | 10 |
| Laughing at Liston, while you quiz his phiz. | |
| |
| Anon Night comes, and with her wings brings things | |
| Such as, with his poetic tongue, Young sung; | |
| The gas upblazes with its bright white light, | |
| And paralytic watchmen prowl, howl, growl | 15 |
| About the streets, and take up Pall-Mall Sal, | |
| Who, hasting to her nightly jobs, robs fobs. | |
| |
| Now thieves to enter for your cash, smash, crash, | |
| Past drowsy Charley, in a deep sleep, creep, | |
| But, frightened by Policeman B. 3, flee, | 20 |
| And while they ’re going, whisper low, “No go!” | |
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| Now puss, when folks are in their beds, treads leads, | |
| And sleepers, waking, grumble, “Drat that cat!” | |
| Who in the gutter caterwauls, squalls, mauls | |
| Some feline foe, and screams in shrill ill-will. | 25 |
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| Now Bulls of Bashan, of a prize size, rise | |
| In childish dreams, and with a roar gore poor | |
| Georgy, or Charley, or Billy, willy-nilly;— | |
| But Nursemaid in a nightmare rest, chest-pressed, | |
| Dreameth of one of her old flames, James Games, | 30 |
| And that she hears—what faith is man’s!—Ann’s banns | |
| And his, from Reverend Mr. Rice, twice, thrice; | |
| White ribbons flourish, and a stout shout out, | |
| That upward goes, shows Rose knows those bows’ woes! | | | | |
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