Poems

Poems List

Explore poems from our collection

Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Winnie

Winnie


When I went by the meadow gate
The chestnut mare would trot to meet me,
And as her coming I would wait,
She'd whinney high…

286
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Wonder

Wonder


For failure I was well equipped
And should have come to grief,
By atavism grimly gripped,
A fool beyond belief.
Bu…

281
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Window Shopper

Window Shopper

I stood before a candy shop
Which with a Christmas radiance shone;
I saw my parents pass and stop
To grin at me and then g…

218
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Willie

Willie


'Why did the lady in the lift
Slap that poor parson's face?'
Said Mother, thinking as she sniffed,
Of clerical disgrace. <…

214
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

White Christmas

White Christmas

My folks think I'm a serving maid
Each time I visit home;
They do not dream I ply a trade
As old as Greece or Rome;

260
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Why Do Birds Sing?

Why Do Birds Sing?

Let poets piece prismatic words,
Give me the jewelled joy of birds!


What ecstasy moves them to sing?
I…

189
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Wheels

Wheels


Since I am sick of Wheels
That jar my day,
Unto the hush that heals
I steal away.
Unto the core of Peace
N…

229
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Weary Waitress

Weary Waitress

Her smile ineffably is sweet,
Devinely she is slim;
Yet oh how weary are her feet,
How aches her every limb!
Thank…

264
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Warsaw

Warsaw


I was in Warsaw when the first bomb fell;
I was in Warsaw when the Terror came -
Havoc and horror, famine, fear and flame,

186
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Washerwife

Washerwife


The aged Queen who passed away
Had sixty servants, so they say;
Twice sixty hands her shoes to tie:
Two soapy ones hav…

261
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Violet De Vere

Violet De Vere

You've heard of Violet de Vere, strip-teaser of renown,
Whose sitting-base out-faired the face of any girl in town;
Well, she was …

232
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Visibility

Visibility


Because my eyes were none to bright
Strong spectacles I bought,
And lo! there sprang into my sight
A life beyond my th…

279
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Vanity

Vanity


My tangoing seemed to delight her;
With me it was love at first sight.
I mentioned That I was a writer:
She asked me: "Wha…

205
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Village Don Juan

Village Don Juan

Lord, I'm grey, my face is run,
But by old Harry, I've had my fun;
And all about, I seem to see
Lads and lassies that lo…

226
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Two Words

Two Words

'God' is composed of letters three,
But if you put an 'l'
Before the last it seems to me
A synonym for Hell.
For all of…

218
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Unholy Trinity

Unholy Trinity

Though Virtue hurt you Vice is nice;
Aye, Parson says it's wrong,
Yet for my pleasing I'll suffice
With Women, Wine and So…

218
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Two Husbands

Two Husbands

Unpenitent, I grieve to state,
Two good men stood by heaven's gate,
Saint Peter coming to await.
The stopped the Keeper of t…

284
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Two Children

Two Children

Give me your hand, oh little one!
Like children be we two;
Yet I am old, my day is done
That barely breaks for you.

180
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Trixie

Trixie


Dogs have a sense beyond our ken -
At least my little Trixie had:
Tail-wagging when I laughed, and when
I sighed, eyes lumi…

231
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Tri-Colour

Tri-Colour


Poppies, you try to tell me, glowing there in the wheat;

Poppies! Ah no! You mock me: It's blood, I tell you, it's blood.

205
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Tranquilism

Tranquilism


I call myself a Tranquilist;
With deep detachment I exist,

From friction free;
While others court the gilded …

210
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Treat 'Em Rough

Treat 'Em Rough

First time I dared propose,
A callow lad was I;
I donned my Sunday clothes,
I wore my Old School Tie.
Awaiting me…

210
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Tourist

Tourist


'Twas in a village in Lorraine
Whose name I quite forget,
I found I needfully was fain
To buy a serviette.
I soug…

261
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Tom

Tom


That Tom was poor was sure a pity,
Such guts for learning had the lad;
He took to Greek like babe to titty,
And he was mathem…

235