Get Your Premium Membership

Famous Woebegone Poems by Famous Poets

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

See also:

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry
...her's life, blow high, blow low. 

And when Blossom appeared before President Lincoln,
Poor child, she was looking very woebegone.
Then the President said, "My child, what do you want with me?"
"Please, Bennie's life, sir," she answered timidly. 

"Jemmie was sick, sir, and my brother took his place."
"What is this you say, child? Come here and let me see your face."
Then she handed him Bennie's letter, and he read if carefully,
And taking up his pen he wrote a few lines hast...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz



...nearest port,
But by capturing of them, they felt but little sport,
Because, for the loss of Captain Ward, the men felt woebegone,
Because in bravery, they said, he was next to Admiral Nelson....Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
...the sun.

 No
 Praise that the spring time is all
Gabriel and radiant shrubbery as the morning grows joyful
 Out of the woebegone pyre
And the multitude's sultry tear turns cool on the weeping wall,
 My arising prodgidal
Sun the father his quiver full of the infants of pure fire,
 But blessed be hail and upheaval
That uncalm still it is sure alone to stand and sing
 Alone in the husk of man's home
And the mother and toppling house of the holy spring,
 If only for a last time....Read more of this...
by Thomas, Dylan
...house and PG Wooster,
They are linked in my mind like Simon and Schuster.

No matter which fumbled in '41,
Or which the woebegone figure of fun.
I deduce how the faux pas came about,
It was clearly Jeeves's afternoon out.

Now Jeeves is back, and my cheeks are crumply
From watching him glide through Steeple Bumpleigh....Read more of this...
by Nash, Ogden
...many lives would be taken away
At the launching of the good ship Albion,
But when she heard of the catastrophe she felt woebegone. 

But accidents will happen without any doubt,
And often the cause thereof is hard to find out;
And according to report, I've heard people say,
'Twas the great crowd on the bridge caused it to give way. 

Just as the vessel entered the water the bridge and staging gave way,
Immersing some three hundred people which caused great dismay
Amongst the ...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz



...nemy they were ever ready,
And still as the bare-kneed line unwavering came on
It caused the Russians to shake and look woebegone. 

And now as the din of the fight grew greater,
Fear filled the hearts of the Russian giants in stature,
Because the kilted heroes they fought so well
That they thought they had come from the regions of hell. 

Oh! it was a most beautiful and magnificent display
To see the Highland Brigade in their tartan array,
And their tall bending plumes in a ...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
.... 

Captain Urquhart's last words were "never mind me my lads, fight on,"
While, no doubt, the Cameron Highlanders felt woebegone
For the loss of their brave captain, who was foremost in the field,
Death or glory was his motto, rather than yield. 

There have been 4,000 prisoners taken, including Mahmud himself,
Who is very fond of dancing girls, likewise drink and pelf;
Besides 3,000 of his followers have been found dead,
And the living are scattered o'er the desert with the...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
...When Sir John Moore was shot dead in the thickest of the fight;
And as the soldiers bore him from the field they looked woebegone,
And the hero's last words were "Let me see how the battle goes on." 

Then he breathed his last with a gurgling sound,
And for the loss of the great hero the soldier's sorrow was profound,
Because he was always kind and served them well,
And as they thought of him tears down their cheeks trickling fell. 

Oh! it was a weird and pathetic sight
As t...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
...eces!" shouted the first. 

"We're dead beat," said both, "but we've got to go on,"
And on they rode both, looking very woebegone;
Then Henry Hook put all thought of cooking out of his mind,
For he was surrounded with danger on every side he did find. 

He was a private of the South Wales Borderers, Henry Hook,
Also a brave soldier, and an hospital cook;
A soldier of the Queen, who was always ready to obey,
And willing to serve God by night and day. 

Then away to the Camp he...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
...This passeth forth; what will ye bet* than well? *better

From day to day this jolly Absolon
So wooeth her, that him is woebegone.
He waketh all the night, and all the day,
To comb his lockes broad, and make him gay.
He wooeth her *by means and by brocage*, *by presents and by agents*
And swore he woulde be her owen page.
He singeth brokking* as a nightingale. *quavering
He sent her piment , mead, and spiced ale,
And wafers* piping hot out of the glede**: *cakes **coals
A...Read more of this...
by Chaucer, Geoffrey

Dont forget to view our wonderful member Woebegone poems.


Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry