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Famous Undertook Poems by Famous Poets

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

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by Crashaw, Richard
..., yet she thinks it shame
Life should so long play with that breath
Which spent can buy so brave a death.
She never undertook to know
What death with love should have to do.
Nor has she e'er yet understood
Why, to show love, she should shed blood;
Yet, though she cannot tell you why,
She can love, and she can die.
Scarce has she blood enough to make
A guilty sword blush for her sake;
Yet has a heart dares hope to prove
How much less strong is death than love.....Read more of this...



by Southey, Robert
...and glass;
The girls were wonderous kind and wonderous fair,
They soon transferred me to the Doctor's care,
The Doctor undertook to cure the evil,
And he almost transferred me to the Devil.
'Twere tedious to relate the dismal story
Of fighting, fasting, wretchedness and glory.
At last discharg'd, to England's shores I came
Paid for my wounds with want instead of fame,
Found my fair friends and plunder'd as they bade me,
They kist me, coax'd me, robb'd me and betray'd...Read more of this...

by Browning, Robert
...hind the grate!

And she---she watched the square like a book
holding one picture and only one,
Which daily to find she undertook:

When the picture was reached the book was done,
And she turned from the picture at night to scheme
Of tearing it out for herself next sun.

So weeks grew months, years; gleam by gleam
The glory dropped from their youth and love,
And both perceived they had dreamed a dream;

Which hovered as dreams do, still above:
But who can take a dream for...Read more of this...

by Carroll, Lewis
...efer to his notes
And briefly to sum up the case. 

But the Judge said he never had summed up before; 
So the Snark undertook it instead, 
And summed it so well that it came to far more
Than the Witnesses ever had said! 

When the verdict was called for, the Jury declined, 
As the word was so puzzling to spell; 
But they ventured to hope that the Snark wouldn't mind 
Undertaking that duty as well. 

So the Snark found the verdict, although, as it owned, 
It was spent ...Read more of this...

by Yeats, William Butler
...What they undertook to do
They brought to pass;
All things hang like a drop of dew
Upon a blade of grass....Read more of this...



by Milton, John
...ses past 
A faithful leader, not to hazard all 
Through ways of danger by himself untried: 
I, therefore, I alone first undertook 
To wing the desolate abyss, and spy 
This new created world, whereof in Hell 
Fame is not silent, here in hope to find 
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers 
To settle here on earth, or in mid air; 
Though for possession put to try once more 
What thou and thy gay legions dare against; 
Whose easier business were to serve their Lord 
High up in H...Read more of this...

by Milton, John
...these thy transgressours; but thou knowest, 
Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, 
When time shall be; for so I undertook 
Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain 
Of right, that I may mitigate their doom 
On me derived; yet I shall temper so 
Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most 
Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. 
Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none 
Are to behold the judgement, but the judged, 
Those two; the third best absent is c...Read more of this...

by Milton, John
...
Ere in the head of nations he appear,
Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth.
I, when no other durst, sole undertook 
The dismal expedition to find out
And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed
Successfully: a calmer voyage now
Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once
Induces best to hope of like success."
 He ended, and his words impression left
Of much amazement to the infernal crew,
Distracted and surprised with deep dismay
At these sad tidings. ...Read more of this...

by Milton, John
...t new trouble!)—such an enemy
Is risen to invade us, who no less
Threatens than our expulsion down to Hell.
I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Consenting in full frequence was impowered, 
Have found him, viewed him, tasted him; but find
Far other labour to be undergone
Than when I dealt with Adam, first of men,
Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell,
However to this Man inferior far—
If he be Man by mother's side, at least
With more than human gifts from Heaven adorn...Read more of this...

by Carroll, Lewis
...efer to his notes
 And briefly to sum up the case.

But the Judge said he never had summed up before;
 So the Snark undertook it instead,
And summed it so well that it came to far more
 Than the Witnesses ever had said!

When the verdict was called for, the Jury declined,
 As the word was so puzzling to spell;
But they ventured to hope that the Snark wouldn't mind
 Undertaking that duty as well.

So the Snark found the verdict, although, as it owned,
 It was spent wit...Read more of this...

by Browning, Robert
...the grate! 

And she -- she watched the square like a book 
Holding one picture and only one, 
Which daily to find she undertook: 

When the picture was reached the book was done, 
And she turned from the picture at night to scheme 
Of tearing it out for herself next sun. 

So weeks grew months, years; gleam by gleam 
The glory dropped from their youth and love, 
And both perceived they had dreamed a dream; 

Which hovered as dreams do, still above: 
But who can take a d...Read more of this...

by Cowper, William
...ch, the hearers of his song.
Fastidious, or else listless, or perhaps
Aware of nothing arduous in a task
They never undertook, they little note
His dangers or escapes, and haply find
Their least amusement where he found the most.
But is amusement all? Studious of song,
And yet ambitious not to sing in vain,
I would not trifle merely, though the world
Be loudest in their praise who do no more.
Yet what can satire, whether grave or gay?
It may correct a foible, may ...Read more of this...

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