Best Henry Poems
Maidens, bloody maidens, I had me six of ‘em wenches, ye knowest
Fullsome Catherine of Aragon wrought havoc ‘tween me and the Pope
Besought a divorce, split from the church whilst Anne Boleyn caught mine eye
'Twas beheaded whenst in ‘er capacity to produce a male heir I lost hope
Mine affection waxed for Jane Seymour; I beseeched ‘er t’ marry me
Anne’s body not yet cold in the ground whenst Jane became mine queen
But after giving me a son, Jane withered, twas gone in two weeks
For ‘er I mourned two years, afore proposing to Anne of Cleves
Ye knowest this “Flanders Mare” twas not suited for mine royal court
Nay, ‘er domestic skills tweren’t becoming of a stately king’s wife
At mine auld age of 49, I grew enamored of young Kathryn Howard
She but 19 when I divorced Anne and beseeched ‘er t’ share mine life
But Kathryn had eyes for other blokes, made me look like a pompous joke
"Thou dost not deserve thine title," I declared, had ‘er executed
Twice widowed at the age of 31, Katherine Parr I settled for
This wench cared for me as I grew ill, thus is undisputed
Prithee t’ see after six attempts, I finally met mine match
Katherine inherited mine throne once mine body twas laid t’ rest
From heaven I look back fondly at mine spirited days of yore
Knowing that in a regal sense mine first wife twas truly mine best
* For Lisa Cooper’s “I Want Some Old English Scandal” contest
William Henry Gates
Never lifted weights
He spent his time in the loft
inventing a thing called Microsoft
5/28/15
HENRY THE SPIDER
Henry the spider was a spy of Eider
Sculled the boat in the river Schlechen Leider
The frog stole the scull
Octopus was dull
He clasped the hull close and kissed the outsider
HENRY THE SPIDER © Rajat kanti Chakrabarty November, 2014
Henry David Thoreau
Spent two years in a one room chateau
Went to the pond to dip his booty
No dice – lifeguards off-duty
There's little left now, Lawson, mate, of your home by the hill,
Except, a guarding sentinel, the chimney stands there still;
To some it's just another site, for tourists passing through,
Perhaps they've never read your works - how sad, but maybe true.
Eurunderee and childhood days, please tell me if I'm wrong,
Instilled in you mixed memories and feelings, oh so strong.
Yes, monumental moments mate; the hardship and the joy.
They brought to mind old childhood days when I was just a boy.
Is that your Dad with shouldered axe and wand'ring off somewhere?
His cross-cut saw with him as well. I'm sure it's him, I swear.
The dark haired lady on the log and scribbling on a pad;
Your Mum I guess at work on verse; she taught you well my lad.
Old grandpa Albury's visiting and dons his greasy hat.
I know it's him, no other soul could ever shout like that.
The muck on brother Charlie's face. It's not Jim Nowlett's brew?
He surely can't believe that tale, 'cause none of it is true.
I see young brother Peter mate is tending cows again.
You mentioned how they liked to stray. You're right, they are a pain.
Is that a horseman riding up and pack horse by his side?
It can't be old Dave Regan. No! They told me he had died.
If Billy Grimshaw's teams passed now, his bales of wool so high,
He couldn't swear from being bogged; the bitumen runs by.
The gold has long but disappeared, though grape vines grow here still;
Red wine is known around the world; I know, I've had my fill.
I can't stay any longer mate I've got a way to go;
To join up with my poet friends, up Queensland way you know.
I'm glad though that I stopped a while to reminisce with you,
Like Banjo mate, deep down within, I saw you as true blue.
To shield ourselves from the painful truth;
Illusions of hope we often see.
But, this is not for wise men's eyes,
Engaged in a struggle for liberty.
And as for me, I wish to know,
Though anguish the spirit may feel,
The worst and then provide for it.
I'll not pretend. The tyrants real.
I have but only one bright lamp
That my feet are guided by;
That is the lamp of experience.
The past can tell where futures lie.
Let us not be deceived any longer.
Our petitions have caused no change,
Supplications have been disregarded.
Our thoughts now must be rearranged.
And many in vain have the fond hope,
That peace will enfold us once more
Open your eyes fellow patriots!
And see what is truly in store.
If we wish to preserve the freedoms,
That have come from heaven's great light;
I appeal to arms, and the God of host.
For all that is left is to fight.
They tell us, Sir, we are too weak,
To cope with the strength of our foe.
But, when shall we ever be stronger.
The answer I truly don't know.
Will it be in a week or the next year?
As we slide down illusions great slope.
Shall we reach for the means of resistance,
While hugging the phantom of hope.
If we make proper use of the means
That nature has placed in our hand.
And the people are armed with the vision,
Of Liberty here in this land.
Then, the God that presides over nations,
Will raise up the friends that we need.
The battle's not just for the strong,
But for vigilant, brave men indeed.
It's in vain, Sir, to lessen the matter.
Cries for peace, have given us none.
Our brethren stand fast in the field, now.
The battle's already begun.
What is it that gentleman wish for.
Is life thought to be so dear?
To be purchased with chains and slavery.
Forbid it, Dear God! Make it clear.
I know not what course others may take,
But, I'll speak mine until my last breath.
Oppression brings no independence.
GIVE ME LIBERTY! OR GIVE ME DEATH!
King Henry VIII and His Wives
By Elton Camp
When Henry’s brother was too young to care
He was made to wed a princess from over there
But you must do just what we say little fella,
Catherine's the child of Ferdinand and Isabella
Catherine had not been Queen for very long
When things with her mate went badly wrong
Medicine was weak. To save him, doctors tried
But despite all they did her young prince died
With Spain, England had a pact
The agreement must stay intact
Henry was then a child of eleven
Hardly a betrothal made in heaven
Henry married at age eighteen
And Catherine became his queen.
Though it is quite sad to have to tell
The queen’s babies didn’t fare well
To bring her husband true joy
She must give birth to a boy
She bore him just a single son
Who died before a year had run
Though married for twenty-four years,
Henry gave voice to his greatest fears
“I have married the wife of my brother
When I should have waited for another.”
But he said this with a sly grin
While he kissed Anne Boyeln
She refused to go to his bed
Until the two were set to wed
Anne produced a baby right away
But ‘twas a girl to Henry’s dismay.
He thought she had done a crime
When both babies died next time
“I’ve been down this road before.
It’s clear you are just a whore.”
No more shall you see my bed.
Rather, you will lose your head.
Jane Seymour was next on the list
So that Anne was scarcely missed
From Jane, virtuous and fair,
There came at last a male heir
Infection was the reason why
The queen proceeded to die
Henry at her death was distraught
But the new child filled his thought
Anne of Cleves was next to arrive
Had a problem, managed to survive.
Henry found he didn’t like her well
“This German woman is ugly as hell.”
The next queen to unfurl
Was just a teenage girl
Catherine Howard was her name
But she was not free from blame
Culpepper was her boyfriend
She had confessed at the end
And unlike the wives before
This one truly was a whore
Catherine Parr became wife six
She did not try to use any tricks
To her, duty came above
Even the man she did love
Of this bad background cannot be any doubt
It is how the Church of England came about.
Who of the people could expect to be a winner
By adhering to a religion formed by a sinner?
Billy the kid kept roving around,
A campfire here, a cowhand there,
He traveled alone through country & town,
Always headed somewhere,
One certain day he rode into town,
His forty-five strapped on his side,
Just to stop and drink one round,
Then continue on with his ride,
He hitched his horse and went in thru,
The front tavern bat-wing doors,
He didn't see anyone he knew,
Just a couple cowboys and some _hores,
He moseyed on up, ordered a drink,
Sarsaparilla I'll have here for me!
Down the hatch, smooth as a wink,
Then he was given another for free,
He thanked the man kindly, turned around,
To leave thru the bat-winged door,
A cowboy stood up and stared Billy down,
Lookin' for trouble and more!
[Cowboy]: "Hey boy! let me teach ya how ta shoot!
Come"ere gimmee that there gun!"
"If'n ya don't I'm gonna plant this 'ere boot!
I'll show ya how the real West is run!"
[Billy]: "Mister, I'm not here ta play!"
"I've dealt with yer kind before,
"So please kindly step outa my way,
And be thankful ya don't see me no more."
[Cowboy]: "Boy! yer messin' with Danger Dan...man!"
"And yer jawin's 'bout ta seal yer fate!"
[Billy]: "Mister, yer soon to be Dan the damned man!"
"If yer gun ain't shootin' fast 'n' straight!"
"Like a rattlesnake springin' from the devils hand!"
"Billys gun cleared his holster that fast!"
"Billy's bullet knocked the gun out of Danger Dan's hand!"
"In a single straight shot blast!"
[Cowboy]: "Uh-h-h! I ain't ever seen a gun so fast!
As the one ya shot sure coulda killed me!"
"Should ya pardon my trouble, may I ask...
What is yer name....really?"
[Billy]: "Mister, it's how ya live, not how fast the gun,"
"that makes a man a man,"
"Most my life's been on the run,
Killin's no future or plan!"
"I'm stranger to most, still livin' the past,
Feelin' bad ta what I did,
"Some crossed my path, ain't here ta boast,
I'm Billy The Kid!"
Come all, sail along with me!
Welcome aboard to a Pirate's Ship of World History
I’ll be your story teller, to you I will relay
All about the great buccaneer named, Sir Henry
Sir Henry Morgan was his complete name
Whose valiance had brought him huge wealth and fame
Plundering ships…. storming the Spanish Main
Doing his mission with no mercy…his fierceness’ flame!
This valiant Welsh Army showed his atrocity
Since the later time of sixteenth hundred century
Seizing Providencia, , Puerto Principe and other towns
Elected as admiral after conquering them all successfully.
Ruthless attacks went on… invading Spanish settlements
No fear at all, a notorious privateer of English men
Aiming Puerto Bello, a city with vast treasure that time
He took over 200,000 pieces of eight, such a glorious reign!
Gathering all men to his eleven-ship fleet
Deliberating Cartagena de Indias, their next hit
But his intoxicated men had accidentally ignited his ship
His fleet was reduced, Maracaibo was the next goal to defeat
‘Though he’d sometimes unlucky chances along the way
Storms, striking reefs, or captured ships….yet, no dismay
Epic voyage continued in large vessels with his unique tactics
Most Audacious Leader of Expedition: his West Indies’ Name Display
That was his most significant voyage from 1665 and beyond
Where he also sailed with greater fate at Cow Island
On 1670, he targeted Panama firing and burning its ground
And conquered the whole troops of Gov. Perez de Guzman
Sir Henry Morgan was a respectable man ‘til he died
For he did his mission for England’s sake, 'though he was tried
His immense contributions to Jamaica were remarkable
A dependable Hero in his power, one of the England’s Prides!
©2016Leonora Galinta
All Rights Reserved
Dec. 30, 2015 1.55pm
Of John Henry Dunant, let's give mention.
He thought up the Geneva Convention;
The International Red Cross also,
In his Memory Of Solferino
20150601
From Wikipedia:
Jean Henri Dunant (8 May 1828 – 30 October 1910), also known as Henry Dunant, was a Swiss businessman and social activist. During a business trip in 1859, he was witness to the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in modern-day Italy. He recorded his memories and experiences in the book A Memory of Solferino which inspired the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863. The 1864 Geneva Convention was based on Dunant's ideas. In 1901 he received the first Nobel Peace Prize together with Frédéric Passy, making Dunant the first Swiss Nobel laureate.
John Henry
He wakes up in the morning
when the clock shows five
And he looks in his mirror
and sees he's still alive
He stumbles in his room
and falls down in his chair
And he listens to voices
BUT THERE'S NOBODY THERE
He was born in the summer of 94
And was found on the steps
Outside the church door
And from that day on
He would live the life of the poor
He never knew his momma
And he never knew his pa
To find them now he would need radar
At the age of sixteen he left his life in care
He had so many parents some were good
And some were poor
And others just showed him the door
Now he is back to his usual tricks
And he is looking for more kicks
So he decides to have one more score
And he slips down from his chair
And now he is lying on the floor
Poor John Henry
The boy who lived next door
On a lovely sunny morn
Henry the lonely hedgehog
Awoke with sun as it reached dawn
As he heard some croaking frogs
With birds a chirping everywhere
And the frogs making their din
Henry, looking here and there
He gave a sleepy grin
He'd woke up from hibernation
All set for a brand new season
Looking forward to a new adventure
His waking gave him reason
To say 'hello' to all around
He felt real good today
He has a chat on the muddy ground
Then he went upon his way
As he strolled along the path
He saw old Polly Parrot
Old Polly he did make him laugh
He was chewing on a carrot
It's not the fool that parrots eat
But that's how Polly is
They both were happy so to meet
And spent their day in bliss
I have a grandson
His name is Henry
He’s smart
He’s loud
He’s very friendly
That’s my grandson,
Henry
Sir Henry Morgan was a privateer,
And a ruthless, mean buccaneer;
Considered a pirate by the Spanish,
He became, in time a millionaire.
Henry was born in Wales to a farmer,
Gaining fame and fortune by valour;
He made a name for himself in Jamaica,
Soon he joined the Navy to become a sailor.
Captain Morgan and his large fleet,
Plundered the coast of Cuba to defeat;
Torturing the residents for their riches,
His ships and men did not know, retreat.
He enriched himself and his crew,
With hundreds of men and many ships too;
They attacked the Spanish Main,
On armed galleons, swiftly they flew.
Life on a wooden ship was not romantic,
Damp and cramped, filthy and botanic;
Pest infested; food spoiled and water reeked,
Sailors died, and some jumped ship, frantic.
He was ordered by Jamaica's Governor,
To return to port as a lawbreaker;
Morgan refused and gathered more ships,
He found the most daring pirates ever.
They set sail to attack Portobello with hopes,
Storming the Fort with ladders and ropes;
Staying for two months gathering and looting,
Collecting wealth, then leaving on their boats.
Morgan continued for years to plunder,
Talking enemy ships and prisoners;
He was finally arrested but found not guilty,
And he was appointed Jamaica's acting Governor.
___________________________
August 19, 2015
Rubaiyat
For the contest, A Storm On The Spanish Main, sponsor, Joe Maverick
Second Place
My ode to William Henry Harrison, 9th President
of the United States, yet barely known.
A Founding Father’s son and longtime frontier resident,
Brave military leader to the bone.
His victories in uniform stacked up along the way,
rarely defeated at the battle line.
As President, though, died in office one month to the day,
now nobody remembers Number Nine.
He served the House of Representatives a term or two;
in politics, he always did excel.
First Governor of Indiana Territory, too -
Ohio’s 13th Senator, as well.
As Major General, Will fought the War of 1812,
as well as several wars along the way.
His worth, though, as a President, historians will shelve
for lasting only one month to the day.
He married sweetheart Anna in the Fall of ’95,
she bore her husband many children - ten!
Although her health was poor, Anna was Queen Bee to the hive,
their son’s son: future POTUS, Benjamin.
There’s no one I would rather have protect my garrison,
though in the end pneumonia held its sway.
A military hero, William Henry Harrison -
Ninth President, just one month to the day.