Poems by Robert W Service

All Poems Original Poems Translations

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A Bachelor

'Why keep a cow when I can buy,'

Said he, 'the milk I need,'

I wanted to spit in his eye

Of selfishness and greed;

But did not, for the reason he

Was stronger than I be.

I told him: ''Tis our human fate,

For better or for worse,

Robert W Service

A Domestic Tragedy

Clorinda met me on the way

As I came from the train;

Her face was anything but gay,

In fact, suggested pain.

"Oh hubby, hubby dear!" she cried,

"I've awful news to tell. . . ."

"What is it, darling?" I replied;

"Your mother — is she well?"

Robert W Service

Canine Conversation

If dogs could speak, O Mademoiselle,

What funny stories they could tell!

For instance, take your little "peke,"

How awkward if the dear could speak!

How sad for you and all of us,

Who round you flutter, flirt and fuss;

Folks think you modest, mild and meek . . .

But would they - if Fi-Fi could speak?

Robert W Service

A Little Prayer

Let us be thankful, Lord, for little things -

The song of birds, the rapture of the rose;

Cloud-dappled skies, the laugh of limpid springs,

Drowned sunbeams and the perfume April blows;

Bronze wheat a-shimmer, purple shade of trees -

Let us be thankful, Lord of Life, for these!

Let us be praiseful, Sire, for simple sights; -

The blue smoke curling from a fire of peat;

Robert W Service

The Three Bares

Ma tried to wash her garden slacks but couldn't get 'em clean

And so she thought she'd soak 'em in a bucket o' benzine.

It worked all right. She wrung 'em out then wondered what she'd do

With all that bucket load of high explosive residue.

She knew that it was dangerous to scatter it around,

For Grandpa liked to throw his lighted matches on the ground.

Somehow she didn't dare to pour it down the kitchen sink,

And what the heck to do with it, poor Ma jest couldn't think.

Robert W Service

A Song Of Winter Weather

It isn't the foe that we fear;

It isn't the bullets that whine;

It isn't the business career

Of a shell, or the bust of a mine;

It isn't the snipers who seek

To nip our young hopes in the bud:

No, it isn't the guns,

And it isn't the Huns —

Robert W Service

A Sourdough Story

Hark to the Sourdough story, told at sixty below,

When the pipes are lit and we smoke and spit

Into the campfire glow.

Rugged are we and hoary, and statin' a general rule,

A genooine Sourdough story

Ain't no yarn for the Sunday School.

A Sourdough came to stake his claim in Heav'n one morning early.

Saint Peter cried: "Who waits outside them gates so bright and pearly?"

Robert W Service

The Philanderer

Oh, have you forgotten those afternoons

With riot of roses and amber skies,

When we thrilled to the joy of a million Junes,

And I sought for your soul in the deeps of your eyes?

I would love you, I promised, forever and aye,

And I meant it too; yet, oh, isn't it odd?

When we met in the Underground to-day

I addressed you as Mary instead of as Maude.

Robert W Service

A Plea

Why need we newer arms invent,

Poor peoples to destroy?

With what we have let's be content

And perfect their employ.

With weapons that may millions kill,

Why should we seek for more,

A brighter spate of blood to spill,

A deeper sea of gore?

Robert W Service

A Character

How often do I wish I were

What people call a character;

A ripe and cherubic old chappie

Who lives to make his fellows happy;

With in his eyes a merry twinkle,

And round his lips a laughing wrinkle;

Who radiating hope and cheer

Grows kindlier with every year.

Robert W Service

Resolutions

Each New Year's Eve I used to brood

On my misdoings of the past,

And vowed: "This year I'll be so good -

Well, haply better than the last."

My record of reforms I read

To Mum who listened sweetly to it:

"Why plan all this, my son?" she said;

"Just do it."

Robert W Service

A Busy Man

This crowded life of God's good giving

No man has relished more than I;

I've been so goldarned busy living

I've never had the time to die.

So busy fishing, hunting, roving,

Up on my toes and fighting fit;

So busy singing, laughing, loving,

I've never had the time to quit.

Robert W Service