Famous Fancy Free Poems by Famous Poets

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

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The Coquette and After (Triolets)

by Thomas Hardy
 I 

For long the cruel wish I knew 
That your free heart should ache for me 
While mine should bear no ache for you; 
For, long--the cruel wish!--I knew 
How men can feel, and craved to view 
My triumph--fated not to be 
For long! . . . The cruel wish I knew 
That your free heart should ache for...Read more of this...

Not I, but Varius (SCRIBERIS VARIO)

by Horace
     Not I, but Varius:—he, of Homer's brood
       A tuneful swan, shall bear you on his wing,
     Your tale of trophies, won by field or flood,
         Mighty alike to sing.
     Not mine such themes,...Read more of this...

The Choice

by Robert William Service
 . . . And then I came to Three ways,
And each was mine to choose;
For all of them were free ways,
To take or to refuse.
"Now which shall be the best way,
East, West or South?" said I . . .
So then I went the West way -
I often wonder why. 

. . . And then I cam to Two ways,
And...Read more of this...

What slender youth (QUIS MULTA GRACILIS)

by Horace
     What slender youth, besprinkled with perfume,
         Courts you on roses in some grotto's shade?
       Fair Pyrrha, say, for whom
         Your yellow hair you braid,
     So trim, so simple! Ah!...Read more of this...

When I Was One-and-Twenty

by A E Housman
 When I was one-and-twenty
I heard a wise man say,
"Give crowns and pounds and guineas
But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free."
But I was one-and-twenty,
No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty
I heard him say again,
"The heart out of the bosom
Was never given in vain;
'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue."
And...Read more of this...

Madrigale IV

by Francesco Petrarch
MADRIGALE IV. Or vedi, Amor, che giovinetta donna. A PRAYER TO LOVE THAT HE WILL TAKE VENGEANCE ON THE SCORNFUL PRIDE OF LAURA.  Now, Love, at length behold a youthful fair,Who spurns thy rule, and, mocking all my care,'Mid two such foes, is safe and fancy free.Thou art well arm'd, 'mid flowers...Read more of this...

Give All to Love

by Ralph Waldo Emerson
GIVE all to love; 
Obey thy heart; 
Friends kindred days  
Estate good fame  
Plans credit and the Muse¡ª 5 
Nothing refuse. 

'Tis a brave master; 
Let it have scope: 
Follow it utterly  
Hope beyond hope: 10 
High and more high 
It dives into noon  
With wing unspent  
Untold intent; 
But it is a god 15...Read more of this...

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