To His Ever-Worshipped Will from W.H.

[fajrdrako]

I found this in a poetry anthology years ago, got it 95% memorized, and then could never find it again. Luckily, this week, I found my transcription of it in one of my note-books - but still, I'm sorry to say, no indication of where I found it in the first place. It is by Louis Untermeyer, 1885-1997, who had a profound effect on my life because he edited A Treasury of Great Poems. When my mother got married in 1944, her Sunday school students gave it to her a wedding present. I read that book over and over and I grew up.

Anyway, here's Untermeyer being (as Julie Gardner would say) naughty.

TO HIS EVER-WORSHIPPED WILL FROM W.H.

Whenas - methinks that is a pretty way
To start - my father spoke to you anent
The precious note I got the other day
The perfumed posy and the pot of scent,
My drowned eyes are constantly bedewed,
The cruel rod of wrath I have not 'scaped;
My mother has been cool, my brother rude,
Honest, you'd think I was already raped.
- You really think I'm like a summer's day?
Really and truly? Thank you ever so -
Behind the Globe, if I can get away,
I'll show my weals and tell thee all my woe.
In your next po'm, an thou wouldst give me joy,
Will you make it clear I'm not that sort of boy?

Francis

Comments

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

That's brilliant! :-D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Isn't it great? I always thought so. Wish I could find out where I originally found it - !

[msilverstar]

That's great, lovely mixed language, then and now, little twists and surprises in such a short poem.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Fun, isn't it?

[amberite.livejournal.com]

Oh that's lovely. Made me grin and cackle out loud.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Makes me grin, too. It's so playful.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I bet the Sunday school didn't know about that one.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I bet the Sunday school didn't know about that one.

I don't suspect they did. Untermeyer certainly didn't include it in A Treasury of Great Verse, worse luck. I wish he had. Then I could find it again.