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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE ENGLISH TRADITION by CHARLES WILLIAMS

First Line: HE WAS SIXTY, AND GROSS, AND GOOD-TEMPERED
Last Line: GOOD-NIGHT!'
Subject(s): POETRY & POETS;

HE was sixty, and gross, and good-tempered:
He stood up in the 'bus
Bidding farewell with a general smile,
And a wave and a word to us,
'Good-night to all you ladies!'
And hark, a song
Marvellously welling
From the first throng
Of poets praising ladies
English and dear,
Broke over us there:
Hark, their voices sang,
As we sat, as we smiled,
Hark, their music rang,
Young and fresh and wild,
Tossed on the London light;
Lovelace, Sackville, and Carew,
All were singing, and we too,
'Good-night to all you ladies,
Good-night!'



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