BellaOnline Forums Books and Music Poetry My Favourite poems

I can't help it, and trying to choose a favourite favourite as with Quality Street Chocolates, is a near impossible task. Still there are those that seem to stand out. Here is one of mine from Roger McGough, a so-called Mersey poet from the 1960s England...

Let me die a youngman's death
not a clean and inbetween
the sheets holywater death
not a famous-last-words
peaceful out of breath death

When I'm 73
and in constant good tumour
may I be mown down at dawn
by a bright red sports car
on my way home
from an allnight party

Or when I'm 91
with silver hair
and sitting in a barber's chair
may rival gangsters
with hamfisted tommyguns burst in
and give me a short back and insides

Or when I'm 104
and banned from the Cavern
may my mistress
catching me in bed with her daughter
and fearing for her son
cut me up into little pieces
and throw away every piece but one

Let me die a youngman's death
not a free from sin tiptoe in
candle wax and waning death
not a curtains drawn by angels borne
'what a nice way to go' death

...............................................................

Add one of yours please...


Thanks all - Lestie - Container Gardening Editor

Hi, Lestie--

Thanks for starting this thread! Your poem offering is certainly a raucous one . . .

My all time favorite poem is #7 from Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali. Because of possible copyright infringement, I will give only a portion of the poem along with link to where you can see it all:

My poet's vanity dies in shame
Before thy sight.
O Master Poet! I have sat down at thy feet!
Only make my life simple and straight
Like a flute of reed for thee
To fill with music.

--from #7 in Gitanjali