Famous Bail Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Bail poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous bail poems. These examples illustrate what a famous bail poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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A Nervous Governor-General

...als walk in the street, 
Where the wary marsupial is hopping? 
Does he think that the snake and the platypus meet 
And "bail up" the folk who go shopping? 
And the boomerangs fly round the scared passer-by 
Who has come all this way to observe us. 
While the blackfellow launches a spear at his eye? 
-- No wonder His Lordship is nervous. 

Does he think that with callers he'll be overtasked, 
From a baronet down to a barber? 
Does he dream of the number of times he'll be asked...Read more of this...
by Paterson, Andrew Barton


Elegy: Walking the Line

...rough a marsh, lined by the fence
We stretched to posts with Mister Garner’s help
The time he needed cash for his son’s bail
And offered all his place. A noble spring
Under the oak root cooled his milk and butter.
He called me “honey,” working with us there
(My father bought three acres as a gift),
His wife pale, hair a country orange, voice
Uncanny, like a ghost’s, through the open door
Behind her, chickens scratching on the floor.
Barred Rocks, our chickens; one, a rooster,...Read more of this...
by Bowers, Edgar

Jonah and the Grampus

...slosher,
He said, "Shut your blow-'ole!" and Grampus replied
"I can't lad, it needs a new washer."

Jonah tried 'ard to bail out the water,
But found all his efforts in vain,
For as fast as he emptied the slops out through the gills
They came in through the blow 'ole again.

When at finish they came to the surface
Jonah took a look out and he saw
They were stuck on a bit of a sandbank that lay
One rod, pole or perch from the shore.

Said the Grampus, "We're in shallow water,
...Read more of this...
by Edgar, Marriott

MFingal - Canto III

..., that fate portend,
Gaul'd many a Briton's latter end;
Drove them to Boston, as in jail,
Confined without mainprize or bail.
Were not these deeds enough betimes,
To heap the measure of your crimes:
But in this loyal town and dwelling,
You raise these ensigns of rebellion?
'Tis done! fair Mercy shuts her door;
And Vengeance now shall sleep no more.
Rise then, my friends, in terror rise,
And sweep this scandal from the skies.
You'll see their Dagon, though well jointed,
Will s...Read more of this...
by Trumbull, John

Part 7 of Trout Fishing in America

.... Come

and get me out. They're burning black candles around the

drunk tank. "

 I went down to the Hall of Justice to bail my friend out,

and discovered that 208 is the room number of the bail office,

It was very simple. I paid ten dollars for my friend's life

and found the original meaning of 208, how it runs like melt-

ing snow all the way down the mountainside to a small cat

living and playing in Hotel Trout Fishing in America, believ-

ing itself to be the last cat...Read more of this...
by Brautigan, Richard


Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan

...e threefold thus to be crossed.
Prison my heart in thy steel bosom's ward,
But then my friend's heart let my poor heart bail;
Whoe'er keeps me, let my heart be his guard,
Thou canst not then use rigour in my jail.
And yet thou wilt; for I, being pent in thee,
Perforce am thine, and all that is in me....Read more of this...
by Shakespeare, William

Sonnet 74: But be contented when that fell arrest

...But be contented when that fell arrest
Without all bail shall carry me away;
My life hath in this line some interest,
Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.
When thou reviewest this, thou dost review
The very part was consecrate to thee,
The earth can have but earth, which is his due;
My spirit is thine the better part of me.
So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,
The prey of worms, my body be...Read more of this...
by Shakespeare, William

Sonnet CXXXIII

...e threefold thus to be cross'd.
Prison my heart in thy steel bosom's ward,
But then my friend's heart let my poor heart bail;
Whoe'er keeps me, let my heart be his guard;
Thou canst not then use rigor in my gaol:
And yet thou wilt; for I, being pent in thee,
Perforce am thine, and all that is in me....Read more of this...
by Shakespeare, William

Sonnet LXXIV

...But be contented: when that fell arrest
Without all bail shall carry me away,
My life hath in this line some interest,
Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.
When thou reviewest this, thou dost review
The very part was consecrate to thee:
The earth can have but earth, which is his due;
My spirit is thine, the better part of me:
So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,
The prey of worms, my body b...Read more of this...
by Shakespeare, William

The Ballad of Persse OReilly

...igion's reform,
 (Chorus) And religious reform,
 Hideous in form.

Arrah, why, says you, couldn't he manage it?
I'll go bail, my fine dairyman darling,
Like the bumping bull of the Cassidys
All your butter is in your horns.
 (Chorus) His butter is in his horns.
 Butter his horns!

(Repeat) Hurrah there, Hosty, frosty Hosty, change that shirt
 on ye,
Rhyme the rann, the king of all ranns!


Balbaccio, balbuccio!

We had chaw chaw chops, chairs, chewing gum, the chicken-pox
 an...Read more of this...
by Joyce, James

The Most Beautiful Woman In Town

...she
seldom missed, and there was the elephant leaf. And then we'd make love. One or two nights
she phoned and I had to bail her out of jail for drunkenness and fighting. 
"These sons of bitches," she said, "just because they buy you a few
drinks they think they can get into your pants." 
"Once you accept a drink you create your own trouble."
"I thought they were interested in me, not just my body."
"I'm interested in you and your body. I doubt, though, that most men can see
...Read more of this...
by Bukowski, Charles

Uncle Bill

...lldog, Fighting Bet, 
To bite, haphazard, all she met? 
And when the mob were lodged in gaol 
Who telegraphed to me for bail? 
And -- here I think he showed his sense -- 
Who calmly turned Queen's evidence?" 

Enough! I now must end my song, 
My needless anguish, why prolong? 
From what I've said, you'll own, I'm sure, 
That Uncle Bill was pretty "pure", 
So, rowdies all, your glasses fill, 
And -- drink it standing -- "Uncle Bill"."...Read more of this...
by Paterson, Andrew Barton

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