# Let's collect some tough, manly poetry **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302 "2010-11-11T14:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/21 "2010-11-11T16:59:04Z")
“To Lucasta, Going to the Wars,” by Richard Lovelace: Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind That from nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind, To war and arms I fly. True, a new mistress now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a shield. Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore; I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honor more. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/22 "2010-11-11T17:12:12Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Why is it that I want the examples to be short? Maybe because I equate “tough” and “manly” with not a lot of talk. And yes, I appreciate the irony of my username within that context. Maybe I should update to “Manly WordMan” or “WordManly” :p:D > > **Deeds Not Words** - a motto used by some regiments, etc. - just seems perfect as a manly phrase loaded with poetic nuance. > > Who are some of the most famous Warrier Poets - I mean besides Stephen Colbert? A favourite (and short): W.B. Yeats, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death > [@](#): > > know that I shall meet my fate > Somewhere among the clouds above; > Those that I fight I do not hate, > Those that I guard I do not love; > My country is Kiltartan Cross, > My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor, > No likely end could bring them loss > Or leave them happier than before. > Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, > Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, > A lonely impulse of delight > Drove to this tumult in the clouds; > I balanced all, brought all to mind, > The years to come seemed waste of breath, > A waste of breath the years behind > In balance with this life, this death. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/23 "2010-11-11T17:15:33Z")
Nice. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/24 "2010-11-11T17:22:29Z")
"Far I hear the bugle blow To call me where I would not go, And the guns begin the song, ‘Soldier, fly or stay for long.’ "Comrade, if to turn and fly Made a soldier never die, Fly I would, for who would not? ‘Tis sure no pleasure to be shot. "But since the man that runs away Lives to die another day, And cowards’ funerals, when they come, Are not wept so well at home, “Therefore, though the best is bad, Stand and do the best, my lad; Stand and fight and see your slain, And take the bullet in your brain.”— A.E. Housman THE DAY OF BATTLE ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/25 "2010-11-11T17:28:40Z")
Well, in honor of the veterans who fought in WW1 that gives today it’s status, “I Have a Rendezvous with Death” I HAVE a rendezvous with Death At some disputed barricade, When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple-blossoms fill the air— I have a rendezvous with Death When Spring brings back blue days and fair. It may be he shall take my hand And lead me into his dark land And close my eyes and quench my breath— It may be I shall pass him still. I have a rendezvous with Death On some scarred slope of battered hill, When Spring comes round again this year And the first meadow-flowers appear. God knows 'twere better to be deep Pillowed in silk and scented down, Where love throbs out in blissful sleep, Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath, Where hushed awakenings are dear… But I’ve a rendezvous with Death At midnight in some flaming town, When Spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/26 "2010-11-11T17:52:37Z")
Here’s one from G. K. Chesterton called _The Last Hero_. (Not related to any of the books or stories with same title as far as I know, unless it influenced them.) _The wind blew out from Bergen from the dawning to the day, There was a wreck of trees and fall of towers a score of miles away, And drifted like a livid leaf I go before its tide, Spewed out of house and stable, beggared of flag and bride. The heavens are bowed about my head, shouting like seraph wars, With rains that might put out the sun and clean the sky of stars, Rains like the fall of ruined seas from secret worlds above, The roaring of the rains of God none but the lonely love. Feast in my hall, O foemen, and eat and drink and drain, You never loved the sun in heaven as I have loved the rain._ ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/27 "2010-11-11T18:03:56Z")
Ball Turret Gunner From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. – Randall Jarrell ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/28 "2010-11-11T18:05:59Z")
On, and another; think of it as free verse: …But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/29 "2010-11-11T18:07:25Z")
The Ballad of Eskimo Nell. I won’t quote or link. Just look it up. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/30 "2010-11-11T18:09:11Z")
Folks, please remember that we take copyright very seriously around here. Please don’t post long excerpts of material. I’m pretty sure Kipling is okay, but I’m not going to check things. If you want to cite a long poem, please give a stanza here and link to the rest of it elsewhere. Thanks, **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/31 "2010-11-11T18:12:16Z")
Some more Kipling… _ **The Young British Soldier** _ When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East ‘E acts like a babe an’ ‘e drinks like a beast, An’ 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased Ere 'e’s fit for to serve as a soldier. Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Soldier of the Queen! Now all you recruities what’s drafted to-day, You shut up your rag-box an’ ‘ark to my lay, An’ I’ll sing you a soldier as far as I may: A soldier what’s fit for a soldier. Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . . First mind you steer clear o’ the grog-sellers’ huts, For they sell you Fixed Bay’nets that rots out your guts – Ay, drink that ‘ud eat the live steel from your butts – An’ it’s bad for the young British soldier. Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . . When the cholera comes – as it will past a doubt – Keep out of the wet and don’t go on the shout, For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out, An’ it crumples the young British soldier. Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . . But the worst o’ your foes is the sun over’ead: You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said: If 'e finds you uncovered ‘e’ll knock you down dead, An’ you’ll die like a fool of a soldier. Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . . If you’re cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind, Don’t grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind; Be handy and civil, and then you will find That it’s beer for the young British soldier. Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . . Now, if you must marry, take care she is old – A troop-sergeant’s widow’s the nicest I’m told, For beauty won’t help if your rations is cold, Nor love ain’t enough for a soldier. 'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . . If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath To shoot when you catch 'em – you’ll swing, on my oath! – Make 'im take ‘er and keep ‘er: that’s Hell for them both, An’ you’re shut o’ the curse of a soldier. Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . . When first under fire an’ you’re wishful to duck, Don’t look nor take ‘eed at the man that is struck, Be thankful you’re livin’, and trust to your luck And march to your front like a soldier. Front, front, front like a soldier . . . When ‘arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch, Don’t call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch; She’s human as you are – you treat her as sich, An’ she’ll fight for the young British soldier. Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . . When shakin’ their bustles like ladies so fine, The guns o’ the enemy wheel into line, Shoot low at the limbers an’ don’t mind the shine, For noise never startles the soldier. Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . . If your officer’s dead and the sergeants look white, Remember it’s ruin to run from a fight: So take open order, lie down, and sit tight, And wait for supports like a soldier. Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . . When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier. Go, go, go like a soldier, Go, go, go like a soldier, Go, go, go like a soldier, A soldier of the Queen! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/32 "2010-11-11T18:36:12Z")
Another one for Veterans Day (first stanza only): In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. _In Flanders Fields_, John McCrae ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/33 "2010-11-11T19:04:29Z")
[The Ballad of Yukon Pete](http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Lil_the_Whore#The_Ballad_of_Yukon_Pete_.28John_Valby.29) ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/34 "2010-11-11T19:15:10Z")
Tough and manly? Ha! A bunch of what y’all have posted is undercut through with other stuff, like girly longing for flowers and rain and breasts and other testosterone-lite items. Even Service and Kipling are mostly funny, not deadly serious, about being all sweaty and sweary. I. NAMING OF PARTS–Henry Reed, 1942 To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday, We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning, We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day, To-day we have naming of parts. Japonica Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens, And to-day we have naming of parts. […] And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers: They call it easing the Spring. They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt, And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance, Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards, For to-day we have naming of parts. It’s all about the undercut. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/35 "2010-11-11T19:17:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Another one for Veterans Day (first stanza only): > > In Flanders fields the poppies blow > Between the crosses, row on row, > That mark our place; and in the sky > The larks, still bravely singing, fly > Scarce heard amid the guns below. > > _In Flanders Fields_, John McCrae Given the date, that does win the thread, mate. Lift one for absent friends. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/36 "2010-11-11T19:18:43Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > You left out the duck’s echo. I wrote a double dactyl on that very subject, once. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/37 "2010-11-11T19:20:29Z")
[“Blood on the Risers:”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_on_the_Risers) He hit the ground, the sound was “SPLAT” his blood went spurting high, His comrades were all heard to say “A hell of a way to die!” He lay there rolling round in the welter of his gore, And he ain’t gonna jump no more. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/38 "2010-11-11T19:30:40Z")
Shakespeare can get pretty manly: Marc Antony speaking in _Julius Caesar:_ O pardon me, thou bleeding peece of Earth: That I am meeke and gentle with these Butchers. Thou art the Ruines of the Noblest man That euer liued in the Tide of Times. Woe to the hand that shed this costly Blood. Ouer thy wounds, now do I Prophesie, (Which like dumbe mouthes do ope their Ruby lips, To begge the voyce and vtterance of my Tongue) A Curse shall light vpon the limbes of men; Domesticke Fury, and fierce Ciuill strife, Shall cumber all the parts of Italy: Blood and destruction shall be so in vse, And dreadfull Obiects so familiar, That Mothers shall but smile, when they behold Their Infants quartered with the hands of Warre: All pitty choak’d with custome of fell deeds, And Caesars Spirit ranging for Reuenge, With Ate by his side, come hot from Hell, Shall in these Confines, with a Monarkes voyce, Cry hauocke, and let slip the Dogges of Warre, That this foule deede, shall smell aboue the earth With Carrion men, groaning for Buriall. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/39 "2010-11-11T19:40:44Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > [The Ballad of Yukon Pete](http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Lil_the_Whore#The_Ballad_of_Yukon_Pete_.28John_Valby.29) An inferior ripoff of Eskimo Nell. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302/40 "2010-11-11T20:00:39Z")
[The Thinker](http://www.bertonbraley.com/id530.htm) by Berton Braley. I memorized it in high school and still know it 30 years later. I like that it’s very man-of-action, but still celebrates thought. An excerpt: Back of the beating hammer By which the steel is wrought, Back of the workshop’s clamor The seeker may find the Thought, The Thought that is ever master Of iron and steam and steel, That rises above disaster And tramples it under heel! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-collect-some-tough-manly-poetry/560302.md?page=3)