Cursory Rhymes

By Humbert Wolfe

'Cursory Rhymes' is a collection of poems written for children, by one of the most popular poets of the early 20th Century. Packed with intelligent humour, these verses invite youngsters to experience the joys of wordplay and wit. With titles, such as 'Poems Against Doctors,' 'The Zoo,' and 'Seaside,' Wolfe reveals his anarchic side, tempered with simple rhyme schemes and topics that children will find easy to relate to. A superb introduction to poetry for youngsters, or for those who want to dip into the rhymes of the time.-

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Jan 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9788728350546

Book preview

Humbert Wolfe

Cursory Rhymes

SAGA Egmont

Cursory Rhymes

Cover image: Shutterstock

Copyright © 1927, 2022 SAGA Egmont

All rights reserved

ISBN: 9788728350546

1st ebook edition

Format: EPUB 3.0

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievial system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor, be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

This work is republished as a historical document. It contains contemporary use of language.

www.sagaegmont.com

Saga is a subsidiary of Egmont. Egmont is Denmark’s largest media company and fully owned by the Egmont Foundation, which donates almost 13,4 million euros annually to children in difficult circumstances.

INVOCATION

FOR

MY DAUGHTER

ANN

Children , there is a lady, who

is younger far than all of you,

who played your games, before you played them,

with Cain and Abel, when they made them,

and who will play them to the end

with the last child, and his last friend.

You do not know her name, nor will,

but you may hear, when all is still,

between the trample of this verse

a quiet footstep that is hers.

PREFACE

The reason why this book is verse

(and nothing, I admit, is worse)

is that, as every schoolboy knows,

it takes much longer to write prose.

P.S.

If someone tries to make you learn it,

just take the beastly book, and burn it.

INTRODUCTION

I

They tell me, children,

you have some

fugitive Elysium

where, while your baffled

elders pass

through what to them is

common grass,

you walk in fields,

where never fell

or