Christopher Smart Poems

A collection of select Christopher Smart famous poems that were written by Christopher Smart or written about the poet by other famous poets. PoetrySoup is a comprehensive educational resource of the greatest poems and poets on history.

Don't forget to view our Christopher Smart home page with links to biographical information, articles, and more poems that may not be listed here.

See also:

A Song To David

 I 
O THOU, that sit'st upon a throne, 
With harp of high majestic tone, 
 To praise the King of kings; 
And voice of heav'n-ascending swell, 
Which, while its deeper notes excell, 
 Clear, as a clarion, rings: 

 II 
To bless each valley, grove and coast, 
And charm the cherubs to the post 
 Of gratitude in throngs;...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher


A Song to David (excerpt)

 Sweet is the dew that falls betimes,
And drops upon the leafy limes;
Sweet Hermon's fragrant air:
Sweet is the lily's silver bell,
And sweet the wakeful tapers smell
That watch for early pray'r.

Sweet the young nurse with love intense,
Which smiles o'er sleeping innocence;
Sweet when the lost arrive:
Sweet the musician's ardour beats,
While his vague mind's in quest of sweets,
The choicest flow'rs to hive.

Sweeter in...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Epistle to Mrs. Tyler

 It ever was allow'd, dear Madam, 
Ev'n from the days of father Adam, 
Of all perfection flesh is heir to, 
Fair patience is the gentlest virtue; 
This is a truth our grandames teach, 
Our poets sing, and parsons preach; 
Yet after all, dear Moll, the fact is 
We seldom put it into practice; 
I'll warrant (if one knew the...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry (excerpt Jubilate Agno)

 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry. 
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk,...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

from Jubilate Agno Fragment B lines 695-768

 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher


Jubilate Agno (excerpt)

 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry. 
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk,...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Jubilate Agno: Fragment A

 Rejoice in God, O ye Tongues; give the glory to the Lord, and the Lamb. 

Nations, and languages, and every Creature, in which is the breath of Life. 

Let man and beast appear before him, and magnify his name together. 

Let Noah and his company approach the throne of Grace, and do homage to the Ark of their Salvation....Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Jubilate Agno: Fragment B Part 1

 Let Elizur rejoice with the Partridge, who is a prisoner of state and is proud of his keepers. 

Let Shedeur rejoice with Pyrausta, who dwelleth in a medium of fire, which God hath adapted for him. 

Let Shelumiel rejoice with Olor, who is of a goodly savour, and the very look of him harmonizes the mind. 

Let Jael rejoice...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Jubilate Agno: Fragment B Part 3

 For a Man is to be looked upon in that which he excells as on a prospect. 

For there be twelve cardinal virtues -- three to the East -- Greatness, Valour, Piety. 

For there be three to the West -- Goodness, Purity and Sublimity. 

For there be three to the North -- Meditation, Happiness, Strength. 

For there be three...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Jubilate Agno: Fragment B Part 4

 For God has given us a language of monosyllables to prevent our clipping. 

For a toad enjoys a finer prospect than another creature to compensate his lack. 

Tho' toad I am the object of man's hate. 
Yet better am I than a reprobate. who has the worst of prospects. 
For there are stones, whose constituent particles are little toads....Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Jubilate Agno: Fragment C

 Let Ramah rejoice with Cochineal. 

Let Gaba rejoice with the Prickly Pear, which the Cochineal feeds on. 

Let Nebo rejoice with the Myrtle-Leaved-Sumach as with the Skirret Jub. 2d. 

Let Magbish rejoice with the Sage-Tree Phlomis as with the Goatsbeard Jub: 2d. 

Let Hashum rejoice with Moon-Trefoil. 

Let Netophah rejoice with Cow-Wheat. 

Let Chephirah rejoice with Millet. 

Let Beeroth...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Jubilate Agno: Fragment D

 Let Dew, house of Dew rejoice with Xanthenes a precious stone of an amber colour. 

Let Round, house of Round rejoice with Myrmecites a gern having an Emmet in it. 

Let New, house of New rejoice with Nasamonites a gem of a sanguine colour with black veins. 

Let Hook, house of Hook rejoice with Sarda a Cornelian -- blessed...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

On a Lady Throwing Snow-Balls at Her Lover

 [From the Latin of Petronious Ascanius.]

When, wanton fair, the snowy orb you throw, 
I feel a fire before unknown in snow. 
E'en coldest snow I find has pow'r to warm 
My breast, when flung by Julia's lovely arm. 
T'elude love's pow'rful arts I strive in vain, 
If ice and snow can latent fires contain. 
These frolics leave: the force...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

On My Wifes Birth-Day

 'Tis Nancy's birth-day--raise your strains, 
Ye nymphs of the Parnassian plains, 
And sing with more than usual glee 
To Nancy, who was born for me. 

Tell the blythe Graces as they bound, 
Luxuriant in the buxom round; 
They're not more elegantly free, 
Than Nancy, who was born for me. 

Tell royal Venus, tho' she rove, 
The queen of the...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Psalm XXIII

 The shepherd Christ from heav'n arriv'd, 
My flesh and spirit feeds; 
I shall not therefore be depriv'd 
Of all my nature needs. 

As slop'd against the glist'ning beam 
The velvet verdure swells, 
He keeps, and leads me by the stream 
Where consolation dwells. 

My soul He shall from sin restore, 
And her free pow'rs awake, 
In paths of heav'nly...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

The Long-Nosed Fair

 Once on a time I fair Dorinda kiss'd, 
Whose nose was too distinguish'd to be miss'd; 
My dear, says I, I fain would kiss you closer, 
But tho' your lips say aye--your nose says, no, Sir.-- 
The maid was equally to fun inclin'd, 
And plac'd her lovely lily-hand behind; 
Here, swain, she cry'd, may'st thou securely kiss, 
Where there's...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

The Pig

 In ev'ry age, and each profession, 
Men err the most by prepossession; 
But when the thing is clearly shown, 
And fairly stated, fully known, 
We soon applaud what we deride, 
And penitence succeeds to pride.-- 
A certain Baron on a day 
Having a mind to show away, 
Invited all the wits and wags, 
Foot, Massey, Shuter, Yates, and Skeggs,...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

The Sweets of Evening

 The sweets of evening charm the mind, 
Sick of the sultry day; 
The body then no more confin'd, 
But exercise with freedom join'd, 
When Phoebus sheathes his ray. 

While all-serene the summer moon 
Sends glances thro' the trees, 
And Philomel begins her tune,. 
And Asteria too shall help her soon 
With voice of skillful ease. 

A nosegay, every thing...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher

Wheres the Poker?

 The poker lost, poor Susan storm'd, 
And all the rites of rage perform'd; 
As scolding, crying, swearing, sweating, 
Abusing, fidgetting, and fretting. 
"Nothing but villany, and thieving; 
Good heavens! what a world we live in! 
If I don't find it in the morning, 
I'll surely give my master warning. 
He'd better far shut up his doors, 
Than keep such...Read more of this...
by Smart, Christopher
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad