Famous Hobble Poems by Famous Poets

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

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Daylight is Dying

by Andrew Barton Paterson
 The daylight is dying 
Away in the west, 
The wild birds are flying 
in silence to rest; 
In leafage and frondage 
Where shadows are deep, 
They pass to its bondage-- 
The kingdom of sleep 
And watched in their sleeping 
By stars in the height, 
They rest in your keeping, 
O wonderful night. 
When night doth her glories 
Of starshine...Read more of this...

The Daylight is Dying

by Andrew Barton Paterson
 The daylight is dying 
Away in the west, 
The wild birds are flying 
In silence to rest; 
In leafage and frondage 
Where shadows are deep, 
They pass to its bondage— 
The kingdom of sleep. 
And watched in their sleeping 
By stars in the height, 
They rest in your keeping, 
Oh, wonderful night. 
When night doth her glories 
Of starshine...Read more of this...

The Ballad Of The Drover

by Henry Lawson
 Across the stony ridges,
Across the rolling plain,
Young Harry Dale, the drover,
Comes riding home again.
And well his stock-horse bears him,
And light of heart is he,
And stoutly his old pack-horse
Is trotting by his knee. 

Up Queensland way with cattle
He travelled regions vast;
And many months have vanished
Since home-folk saw him last.
He hums a song of someone
He hopes to marry soon;
And hobble-chains and...Read more of this...

The Town Down by the River

by Edwin Arlington Robinson
 I

Said the Watcher by the Way 
To the young and the unladen, 
To the boy and to the maiden, 
"God be with you both to-day. 
First your song came ringing, 
Now you come, you two-- 
Knowing naught of what you do, 
Or of what your dreams are bringing.

"O you children who go singing 
To the Town down the River,...Read more of this...

Men of Verdun

by Laurence Binyon
 There are five men in the moonlight
That by their shadows stand;
Three hobble humped on crutches,
And two lack each a hand.


Frogs somewhere near the roadside 
Chorus their chant absorbed: 
But a hush breathes out of the dream-light 
That far in heaven is orbed. 


It is gentle as sleep falling
And wide as thought can span,
The ancient peace and wonder 
That brims...Read more of this...

Fleurette

by Robert William Service
 (The Wounded Canadian Speaks)

My leg? It's off at the knee.
Do I miss it? Well, some. You see
 I've had it since I was born;
 And lately a devilish corn.
(I rather chuckle with glee
 To think how I've fooled that corn.)

But I'll hobble around all right.
 It isn't that, it's my face.
Oh I know I'm a hideous sight,
 Hardly a...Read more of this...

The Old Huntsman

by Siegfried Sassoon
 I’ve never ceased to curse the day I signed 
A seven years’ bargain for the Golden Fleece. 
’Twas a bad deal all round; and dear enough 
It cost me, what with my daft management, 
And the mean folk as owed and never paid me, 
And backing losers; and the local bucks 
Egging me on with whiskys while I bragged...Read more of this...

86. The Auld Farmer's New-Year-Morning Salutation to his Auld Mare Maggie

by Robert Burns
 A GUID New-year I wish thee, Maggie!
Hae, there’s a ripp to thy auld baggie:
Tho’ thou’s howe-backit now, an’ knaggie,
 I’ve seen the day
Thou could hae gaen like ony staggie,
 Out-owre the lay.


Tho’ now thou’s dowie, stiff, an’ crazy,
An’ thy auld hide as white’s a daisie,
I’ve seen thee dappl’t, sleek an’ glaizie,
 A bonie gray:
He should been tight that daur’t...Read more of this...

The Girl In The Lane

by Mother Goose
The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain,
  Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble":
The man on the hill that couldn't stand still,
  Went hobble hobble, hobble....Read more of this...

Dream Song 113: or Amy Vladeck or Riva Freifeld

by John Berryman
 or Amy Vladeck or Riva Freifeld

That isna Henry limping. That's a hobble
clapped on mere Henry by the most high GOD
for the freedom of Henry's soul.
-”The body's foul, cried god, once, twice, & bound it-”
For many years I hid it from him successfully-”
I'm not clear how he found it

But now he has it-”much good may it do him
in the vacant...Read more of this...

The Drovers Sweetheart

by Henry Lawson
 An hour before the sun goes down 
Behind the ragged boughs, 
I go across the little run 
And bring the dusty cows; 
And once I used to sit and rest 
Beneath the fading dome, 
For there was one that I loved best 
Who'd bring the cattle home. 

Our yard is fixed with double bails, 
Round one the grass is...Read more of this...

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