Poems

Poems List

Explore poems from our collection

Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Forward

Forward


I've tinkered at my bits of rhymes
In weary, woeful, waiting times;
In doleful hours of battle-din,
Ere yet they brought the wounded …

233
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Freedom's Fool

Freedom's Fool

To hell with Government I say;
I'm sick of all the piddling pack.
I'd like to scram, get clean away,
And never, nevermore come back.…

253
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Fool Faith

Fool Faith

Said I: "See yon vast heaven shine,-What
earthly sight diviner?
Before such radiant Design
Why doubt Designer?"

Said he: "De…

245
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Forgotten Master

Forgotten Master

As you gaze beyond the bay
With such wanness in your eyes,
You who have out-stayed your day,
Seeing other stars arise,
Slend…

195
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Florrie

Florrie


Because I was a wonton wild
And welcomed many a lover,
Who is the father of my child
I wish I could discover.
For though I know…

217
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Flight

Flight


On silver sand where ripples curled
I counted sea-gulls seven;
Shy, secret screened from all the world,
And innocent as heaven.

270
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Fleurette

Fleurette


(The Wounded Canadian Speaks)

My leg? It's off at the knee.

Do I miss it? Well, some. You see
I've had it since I was b…

304
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Fisherfolk

Fisherfolk


I like to look at fishermen
And oftentimes I wish
One would be lucky now and then
And catch a little fish.
I watch them stat…

222
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Finistere

Finistere


Hurrah! I'm off to Finistere, to Finistere, to Finistere;
My satchel's swinging on my back, my staff is in my hand;
I've twenty louis in …

280
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Finale

Finale


Here is this vale of sweet abiding,
My ultimate and dulcet home,
That gently dreams above the chiding
of restless and impatient foam; …

191
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Fidelity

Fidelity


Being a shorty, as you see,
A bare five footer,

The why my wife is true to me
Is my six-shooter.

For every time a …

269
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Farewell To Verse

Farewell To Verse

In youth when oft my muse was dumb,
My fancy nighly dead,
To make my inspiration come
I stood upon my head;
And thus I let …

201
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Fallen Leaves

Fallen Leaves

Why should I be the first to fall
Of all the leaves on this old tree?
Though sadly soon I know that all
Will lose their hold and foll…

281
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Failure

Failure


He wrote a play; by day and night
He strove with passion and delight;
Yet knew, long ere the curtain drop,
His drama was a sorry flop…

274
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Expectation

Expectation


My flask of wine was ruby red
And swift I ran my sweet to see;
With eyes that snapped delight I said:
"How mad with love a lad ca…

232
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Eyrie

Eyrie


Between the mountain and the sea
I've made a happy landing;
And here a peace has come to me
That passeth understanding;
A shining…

287
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Ernie Pyle

Ernie Pyle

I wish I had a simple style
In writing verse,

As in his prose had Ernie Pyle,
So true and terse;

Springing so forthrig…

169
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Euthansia

Euthansia


A sea-gull with a broken wing,
I found upon the kelp-strewn shore.
It sprawled and gasped; I sighed: "Poor thing!
I fear your flyin…

230
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Equality

Equality


The Elders of the Tribe were grouped
And squatted in the Council Cave;
They seemed to be extremely pooped,
And some were grim, but a…

160
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Enemy Conscript

Enemy Conscript

What are we fighting for,
We fellows who go to war?
fighting for Freedom's sake!
(You give me the belly-ache.)
Freedom to sta…

220
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Einstein

Einstein


A little mousey man he was
With board, and chalk in hand;
And millions were awestruck because
They couldn't understand.
Said h…

244
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Each Day A Life

Each Day A Life

I count each day a little life,
With birth and death complete;
I cloister it from care and strife
And keep it sane and sweet.

204
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Dylan

Dylan


And is it not a gesture grand
To drink oneself to death?

Oh sure 'tis I can understand,
Being of sober breath.
And so I do …

205
Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service

Dumb Swede

Dumb Swede

With barbwire hooch they filled him full,
Till he was drunker than all hell,
And then they peddled him the bull
About a claim they had t…

200