JUST as the beheading was all ready to begin, "What was @3your@1 offence?" they asked the ancient mandarin. The mandarin smiled grimly, as on his knees he sank "My offence?" he whispered: "Ah, my offence is -- rank." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE NIGHTINGALE by PAUL VERLAINE STANZAS IN MEMORY OF THE AUTHOR OF OBERMANN by MATTHEW ARNOLD GARDEN FANCIES: 1. THE FLOWER'S NAME by ROBERT BROWNING THE CONTRETEMPS by THOMAS HARDY OVERHEARD ON A SALTMARSH by HAROLD MONRO THE MOON by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON COME UP FROM THE FIELDS FATHER by WALT WHITMAN |