Modern poetical works
First published in 1873
In the mid to late nineteenth century a number of poets began not only to write and publish their work but to perform it vigorously in public houses, at public gatherings, in fact anywhere but libraries and literary circles.
It was very much a modern form of expression and was frowned upon by the literati. It wasn’t just the style and subject matter of the words that affronted people but their garish mode of dress and larger than life appearance. Hence they became known as “Flamboyant Dandies”. For some reason this title both appealed and stuck. It also seemed to give the poets an impetus and something to live up to.
Neville Ambrose Xavier was perhaps the most prolific and most popular of these poets and was an innovator in this field. It was he who first brought many of these poets together.
“Splendrous Beauty” was first published in 1873 and although it has long since been forgotten and ignored by critics and scholars alike, this reprint brings together some of the most important, vibrant, potent, relevant and influential poetry from this long forgotten era.
SPLENDROUS BEAUTY
IF WORDS CONFUSE
An ode to the joyfulness of the rhythm of words
If words confuse
Then let us use
The language of the girls and boys
Far, far away
And everyday
Let’s shout them out and feel their noise
‘Tis great the sound
Our words abound
To celebrate the utter joys
How does it feel
To now reveal
Their truth and feel their joyous noise
These words laid
These phrases made
To captivate with style and poise
Forever roll
Enchant the soul
When we join and feel their noise.
Neville Ambrose Xavier
‘TIS THE FESTIVE SEASON AND I AM ALL ALONE
Tis the festive season and I am all alone
Once we were in love yet now I’m on my own
The snow may be falling, icy and cold
But I’m all alone without you to hold
Tis the festive season and you’re no longer here
The Christmas bells are ringing and yet I feel no cheer
No use for mistletoe I stand here without you
By the empty Christmas tree that I chose for us two.
Leslie De Grays
ARREST THE FUSS AND BLUSTER
We all must have our wits about us
We all must step out with trepidation
We all must wake our senses
To the one who caused this situation
We are but clueless in our choice of our direction
We are but clueless and require wise selection
Doth anyone have knowledge of the method
With all the strength that we can muster
There must be a means and a solution
To arrest the fuss and halt all of the bluster
Bryant Priestley
ON DAVID’S HILL
An old man looks back and celebrates his youth
On David’s Hill
On David’s Hill
Where once we met and yet meet still
Twas there we shouted loud and shrill
On David’s Hill
On David’s Hill
On David’s Hill
On David’s Hill
We tasted youth, enjoyed its thrill
Those memories will rage until
I’m laid to rest
On David’s Hill
Neville Ambrose Xavier
ROMANCE DOTH NOT ENSNARE ME
Romance doth ensnare me nor intrigue me
By amour I am not captivated
By sentiment I am not enchanted
Love hath not got me infatuated
Remember this is but a passing situation
Remember this should we have cause to meet
Please do not fuss should we engage in simple conversation
Thy presence doth not cause me heart to skip a single beat
I am not besotted by devotion
Nor am I enamoured by thine adoration
I am not charmed by thy rapture
I am not smitten by thine adulation
Gentlemen do not shed tears for passion
Gentlemen weep not when attachment is all gone
Gentlemen are not the ones to sob for amity
It is not romance and love we are engaged upon
C. C. Tennat
WITH MUSIC LET US CHEERFUL BE
My friends we love to sing and dance
With strings to pluck and strum
Let James be wild with violin
And Donald bang his drum
Let harpsichord be played with glee
Sweet melodies to hum
Let James be wild with violin
And Donald bang his drum
Let jig and reel be played until
Their charms we do succumb
Let James be wild with violin
And Donald bang his drum
Let us all with complete joy
And wild abandon come
Let James be wild with violin
And Donald bang his drum
Let us join on David’s Hill
And hold our hours of fun
Let James be wild on violin
And Donald bang his drum
Let music be the food of love
Play on and on and on
Let James be wild on violin
And Donald bang his drum
Neville Ambrose Xavier
GOD BLESS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
When Winter hath been left behind
And golden sun our hearts entwin’d
God bless the Summer Solstice
Our spirits hath been lifted high
By glowing sun in open sky
God bless the Summer Solstice
Living life’s philosophy
Let’s fish and sail upon the sea
God bless the Summer Solstice
Romance and love – our paradigm
Perfect in the Summer time
God bless the Summer Solstice
Jeremiah Dorsey
I WOULD THEE MAKE CELESTIAL
Celestial and lifted up as starlight in the heavens high
I would that I couldst make thee when I return to home
Thou art much more than prettiness of features in mine eye
I would that I were home, I hath been absent long
Celestial as the sun and moon and stars thou art to me
I wouldst that others see you in this creation light
When I return then thou wilt be as ever thy shouldst be
The brightest star in heaven, forever shining bright
D. F. D. Wessex
FARE THEE WELL, MY LADY JAYNE
Fare thee well, my Lady Jayne
I shall not see thy like again
My soul is rent in two with pain
So, fare thee well, my Lady Jayne
Dark and beautious to behold
Thou art too young, while I, too old
My loss will be another’s gain
So, fare thee well, my Lady Jayne
Decreed by fate, so cruel and mean
I must desert my one true queen
Who shall my heart forever reign
So, fare thee well, my Lady Jayne
Alas, alack, oh woe, alas
My true dream shall not come to pass
I shall not tread this way again
So, fare thee well, my Lady Jayne
Neville Ambrose Xavier
MY LOVE DOTH TREAD WITH FELINE WAYS
My love doth tread with feline ways
Soft as padded paws
With tigress cunning, poise and grace
Sharp and taloned claws
My love doth tread with feline ways
Creeping in then out
She asks me how I know my place
Whene’er she is about
I know ‘tis right, I know ‘tis right
Forever in her feline light
Perfectly she swings and sways
My love doth tread with feline ways
Leslie De Grays
IT IS THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, MY MISTRESS PLEASE DO NOT BE COY
I wouldst that thou shouldst see me
Heroic, proud and good
Thou couldst be Maid Marian
And I, thy Robin Hood
I would that thou shouldst love me
For I shalt be thy only boy
It is the nineteenth century
My mistress please do not be coy
Thou art beautiful my love
A swan in purest white
As a banging gong I would
Celebrate thy sight
Thou knowest that I’ll love thee
Forever bring thee joy
It is the nineteenth century
My mistress please do not be coy
John Marquis
FOR THEE I’LL WEAR A SILK SET SASH
For thee I’ll wear a silk set sash
Bejewell’d as a lightning flash
For thee I’ll wear a silk set sash
Scarlet as a ruby brash
For thee I’ll wear a silk set sash
Encrusted with a sparkling splash
For thee I’ll wear a silk set sash
Tonight
Susannah Quincy
DOST THOU CONSIDER ME
Dost thou consider me
Appealing to thine eyes?
Dost thou desire me?
Dost thou require me?
Dost thou consider me
Appealing to thine eyes?
Do thy thoughts rage with passion?
Art thou consumed with fire?
Is carnal recreation
Your one sinful desire?
Dearest lady reach out
And touch with thine affections
Release all your intentions
And their pleasurable directions
Dost thou consider me
Appealing to thine eyes?
Is thy body aching?
Are thy pulses shaking?
Does thy heart feel like breaking?
Dearest maiden dost thou
Consider me appealing
To thy youthful eyes?
Roderick S. McTueart
REVELING TILL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
In this place and from this place
From this day forward let us pace
Enjoyment is our sweet embrace
Debauchery for all its worth
Frivolous both far and wide
Through city, town and countryside
Let revelers be unified
Throughout all the earth
Enjoyment, rejoicing, delighting and pleasure
Merriment, amusement – all in equal measure
Indulgence and relish let us all treasure
Let us go forth – delectable leisure
Debauchery for all its worth
Satisfaction, joy and mirth
Reveling throughout the earth
Reveling throughout the earth
Richard Q. Francis
THIS PLACE HATH INSUFFICIENT SPACE FOR THE TWO OF US
Rivals, we are rivals
Friends, we shall never ever be
This place hath insufficient space for the two of us
And I shall never be the one to leave
Adversaries, opponents,
Antagonists, competitors are we
This place hath insufficient space for the two of us
And I shall never be the one to leave
Confrontation undeniable
A duel is inevitable
My heartbeat is increasing
A rhinoceros stampeding
Yet my resolve is strengthening
I will fight for that in which I truly now believe
This place hath insufficient space for the two of us right now
And I shall never ever be the one that is to leave
Ronan Russell
THOU ART MY ENTIRETY
Thou art me beginning
Thou art my end
Thou art my entirety
Dearest lover, special friend
Thou art my creation
Thou art my infinity
Thou art my completion
Thou art my entirety
Thou art my peace on earth
Thou art my divinity
Thou art my totality
Thou art my entirety
Barrington Snow
AWAKE MY DEAREST MARGARET
Awake my dearest Margaret
I have words for just thine ears
Awake my dearest Margaret
And harken to my fears
Awake my dearest Margaret
To the passing of the years
The seasons they draw on and on
My time is nigh, I must be gone
Awake my dearest Margaret
And let us dry our tears
My repartee and witty charm
Doth cause you mirth and joy
Thou didst not need thy female wiles
Or senses to employ
Thou – a woman of some substance
And I am but a boy
The seasons they draw on and on
My time is nigh, I must be gone
Wake my dearest Margaret
And let us not be coy
In my heart of hearts I wish thy countenance I’d never seen
Impossible to resist thy beauty so serene
Try as I might I cannot forget
Come what may I cannot regret
What thou hast taught me since we met
Awake my dearest Margaret
May you always be my queen
Roderick S. McTueart
DEAREST MOTHER WE ARE MELANCHOLY NO MORE
My troubles are Leviathan
As Jonah was, so am I down
So, tempted by the Devil’s dram
My sorrows for to douse and drown
Replenish the glass then swiftly drain
Once, then twice, then thrice again
The world it looks much different
when prostrate on the floor
Fill to the brim, then raise and sup
The foaming brew from Devil’s cup
And dearest mother we –
are melancholy no more
Vast are the quantities imbibed
My vision swirls within a haze
And to my sinful side subscribe
The laziest of crazy days
Open the door and down the hatch
And all trace of despair despatch
Begoggled eyes are heavy thus
they cannot see the door
Bottoms up! The chorus cheers
The best time that I’ve had in years!
And dearest mother we –
are melancholy no more
A pretty penny spent and then
My lady friends desert me
A drink up to the brink my friends
And nothing more can hurt me
Let’s wallow in the hollow trough
This liquor is, but not enough
Restock, refill, detect, distill,
regret not what it’s for
So comrades come! Once more consume
And bask in fool firewater fume
And mother, dearest mother,
My dearest, dearest mother,
Mother, dearest mother –
we are melancholy no more!
Neville Ambrose Xavier
HOW GRACEFUL DOTH SHE MOVE
Come see how graceful doth she move
My darling when she dances
As is the tide upon the sand
As are the lilies on the land
In Heavenly expanses
Come see how graceful doth she move
My angel in the moonlight
Music sways her hither, thither
Liquid as the rolling river
‘Tis such a bounteous sight
Come see how graceful doth she move
My sweetheart dances free
Unrestrained by shadow’s gloom
As a rose unfurls in bloom
In nature’s melody
Royston W. Woodthorpe
RESPLENDENT IN HER RUBY ROBES
Resplendent in her ruby robes
Bedeck’d in scarlet splendour
My jealous mind doth overload
When gazing on her gender
Red is the shade upon her gown
Bedeck’d in scarlet splendour
I wouldst that she would let it down
And show her form so slender
Fenton St. Lavin
THE BAWDY GENTLEMAN WHO COMES FROM BANGOR TOWN
The gentleman of Bangor Town
Doth traverse and journey round
Hither, thither, overground
The gentleman of Bangor Town
From city streets to county down
Lodgings he hath sought and found
In revelry he doth abound
The gentleman of Bangor Town
Whether pennies or with pound
Celebrates or sorrow’s drown’d
Pursuing pleasurement profound
The gentleman of Bangor Town
The king of despots he is crown’d
Glorious in the frightful sound
Of raucous songs and tankards down’d
The bawdy gentleman who comes from Bangor Town
Neville Ambrose Xavier
THE POLITICIANS ARE AS THE APES
The politicians are as the apes
Their slouching folded features
They swing and scream and not much else
These ribbon’d gibbon’d creatures
W. G. Taylor
ETERNAL ODYSSEY OF HEAVEN
The firmaments of heaven and earth
Eternal odyssey
The suns and moons doth know their place
In perfect symmetry
Celestial globes, a myriad stars
Beyond this ground’s control
Illuminate this world of ours
Delightful to behold
Major Thomas Duke
O, TO BE BACK HOME ONCE MORE
O, to be back home once more
I wouldst that thou wouldst take me there
O, to be back home with thee
Where precious moments we couldst share
Recumbent in thy company
O, to be back home once more
And share our passion, heavenly
Shut the shutters, lock the door!
Neville Ambrose Xavier
THE EVE BEFORE THE SABBATH AND THE REVELLERS DO FIGHT
The eve before the Sabbath morn
The revellers gay do meet
Perchance to quaff, perchance to laugh
Perchance to duel, perchance to fight
With grappling hands and kicking feet.
‘Tis all but gay abandon
Their confidence reborn
With bellies brimming full of ale
These revellers do sing and fight
The eve before the Sabbath morn.
Regina D. Wight
DEEPER STILL BENEATH THE DEPTHS
Deeper still beneath the depths
And ever deeper still
Further down and out of breath
Beyond my deepest ill
Deeper, ever deeper down
My soul has lost its way
And spirals ever deeper still
Fast from the light of day
Beneath the depths and deeper still
I fear that I shall drown
The world can see what hast done
And how I am dragg’d down
Richard Q. Francis
THY SWEET EMBRACE DOTH PLEASE ME WELL
Thy sweet embrace doth please me well
Thy love song thy sweet tongue doth tell
It chimes pure as a crystal bell
First I stumbled, then I fell
Forever in thy charms to dwell
Thy sweet embrace doth please me well
Intoxicated by thy spell
Let me drink thy perfum’d smell
Heaven’s scent I cannot quell
They sweet embrace doth please me well
Neville Ambrose Xavier
LET OUR HEARTS BE JOINED AS ONE
Let our hearts be joined as one
Together and forever
Drugged by thy love from heaven above
I shall leave thee never
Virginia, thou art all but plain
But splendid as creation
Eternal may we ever stay
In holy revelation
Byron Strand
WHEN THE GENTLEMEN RETURN TO TOWN
When the gentleman return
From hunting wild things down
Nought shall cease their revelry
When the gentlemen return to town
Merriment, excitement
Suffice to make a parson frown
And plenty whisky in the jar
When the gentlemen return to town
Like strutting peacocks preening
They strive to earn the crown
Of King Of Futile Revelry
When the gentlemen return to town
The crow and beat their manly breasts
Parading round and round
Reput’d ladies stay within
When the gentlemen return to town
Elizabeth Finn – Phillips
ODE TO SOCIAL ANARCHY
Let snarling, spitting, curs-ed beasts
Break down the walls, enjoys the feasts
Let social anarchy release!
God save the King I cannot sing
I do not hold with either thing
Let social anarchy ring!
Lyndon Jones
FLAMBOYANT DANDIES ALL ARE WE
A riposte to those who judge the poetry of youth on mere appearance
Flamboyant dandies all are we
Resplendent in our colours gay
Let our words live on and on
Yet here we are to stay
Yea, here art we to stay
Flamboyant dandies, frivolous
Not judged by words we say
But how we doth outward appear
Yet here we are to stay
Yea, here art we to stay
Flamboyant dandies nonetheless
Have youthful dreams to say
The future yet hath just begun
And here we are to stay
Yea, here art we to stay!
Neville Ambrose Xavier
LET YOUTHFUL HOPE BE SWEET ON HISTORY’S RAMPANT PAGE
Let youth ransack the elder’s order
Let us not be held within because of lack of age
Let the taste of youthful hope be sweet
As we make our mark on history’s rampant page
On history’s page may we rampant be
Democracy for all, we demand a constitution
We have the clues and knowest what to do
Sweet tasting may be our revolution
May our revolution be so sweet
May love be our oxygen of youth
May we tread our stairways to the stars and far beyond
And by our actions may you know our truth
Bryant Priestley
WHEN I REQUIRE THEE NEAR
Shouldst that I require thy presence
All I do is think of thee,
Close my eyes and count my blessings
Dreaming of our time so free
Shouldst that I require thy presence
And thou suddenly appear
Thou doth make me feel like dancing
Whenever thou art near
Leopold Ayers
I MET A RAWTENSTALL LADY FAIR
I met a Rawtenstall lady, fair
With flaming, flowing raven hair
Rings adorned her fingers
Bells adorned her toes
A Rawtenstall lady fair, was she
A gypsy rose of mystery
Sweet music sweet doth follow
All places that she goes
With a hey and a ho
And a hey nonny no
A Rawtenstall lady do I love
Standing ‘neath the moon of love
I would walk a thousand steps
To be with her in heaven
I met a Rawtenstall lady, sweet
Heavenly was my heartbeat
I remember when I saw those angel eyes
That God hath given
With a hey and a ho
And a hey nonny no
Bartram Wadshaw-Ruddie
SEE THE DEEDS THOU PERPETRATED
See the deeds thou perpetrated
Look what thou hast done to me
A shadow and emaciated
Half the man I used to be
See the deeds thou perpetrated
Look what thou hast to me done
My memory is desecrated
See the sham I have become
See the deeds thou perpetrated
Thou hast done to me all ill
Now our lives are segregated
See how thou doth do it still
Neville Ambrose Xavier
THE PUDDINGS OF ELIZABETH BLACK ARE A SPLENDOUR TO BEHOLD
My tastebuds are excited
My hunger is ignited
When Elizabeth doth bring her wares to town
By gum! They are a pleasure
A taste for all to treasure
Her puddings are of great northern renown
W. G. Taylor
RHAPSODIOUS AND REGAL
Her symphonies are regal, royal, pompous
Her rhapsodies flamboyant and eternal
Her melodies mellifluously magical
Extravagantly overblown, infernal
This is the real life and not merely fantasy
Caught in the sliding rubble of her reality
Whichever way her wind doth blow
Matters not to me
I am just a poor boy born into poverty
I only wish to sing with her her, regal rhapsody
Roger De Frederick
ALL THE DAYS THAT I’M WITHOUT THEE
All the days that I’m without thee
My countenance is blue
Thou shalt have no cause to doubt me
My heart is ever true
All the days that I’m without thee
I crave nought but thy hand
Completely and devoutly
In every foreign land
Tis lovely, yea, though this say I
I know our love shall never die
Neville Ambrose Xavier
FAREWELL, FAREWELL MY SWEETHEART
Farewell, farewell, my sweetheart
My sweetheart fond adieux
Farewell, farewell my cherished one
The tears I cry are true
How I desire to turn back time
Then I could marry thee
But now, alas, I am betrothed,
I am no longer free
The romance that I would begin
Can never ever be
The ring upon my finger
Leads me away to she
Who does not fill my heart with joy
But abject misery
I cannot wait or hesitate
Or change this history
So farewell, farewell my sweetheart
My sweetheart fond adieux
Farewell, farewell my cherished one
The tears I cry are true
B.C.R McKewan
SWEET AND INNOCENT MY DARLING
Sweet and innocent my darling
Sweet and youthful my dearest
Sweet and vulnerable my true love
I would have thee nearest
I never desired to cause thee pain
When thou didst misconstrue
Mistakes that all true lovers make
Let us begin anew
Sweet and blameless my beloved
Thou art infant like in purity
Sweet and delicate my angel
Oh sweet and cherished deity
Reuben E. Betts
TIS THE SUMMER AND THE SON DOTH SHINE
Tis monstrous to consider death
When life hath all vitality
My time is nigh and darling I
Must soon be gone, remember me
Tis desperate to think of death
But I must bid farewell, goodbye
Yet all the larks are singing
And the son doth shine high in the sky
We shared enjoyment and delight
When the sunshine shone so bright
Tis Summer and the sun doth shine
And yet my life is in decline
Jackman Torrance
DOST THOU DESIRE TO JOIN OUR CREW
Wilt thou be within my circle?
Dost thou desire to join me?
Wilt thy give thy fellowship in our company?
For I am the captain
The ringleader and chief
So come thus join our coterie, our companionship and clique
Hither now, draw near, hither now appear, hither now, arrive
Say I
Garforth Golding
O, MERRY BE, BOTH ONE AND ALL
O, merry be, both one and all
This festive Christmas Season
Let stockings hang from every wall
With joyful hope and reason
As family and friends do call
May company be pleasing
And let the snowflakes gently fall
This festive Christmas Season
O celebrate in revelry
Now Yuletide has begun
Sing carols’ holy melody
The Virgin Mary’s Son
And look ahead at what’s to be
And what is yet to come
Tis a time of mystery
Now Yuletide has begun
Saint Nicholas attired in red
Now Christmastime is here
With reindeers seven before his sled
This one night of the year
All children good tucked up in bed
Dream of gifts that cheer
So onward let us all be led
Now Christmastime is here
God bless all merry gentlefolk
It’s Christmas! Let us shout!
Uncork the wine and laugh and joke
Let love and joy ring out
Sing on until our voices croak
While snow be round about
May sleigh day dreams be filled with hope
It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas!
IT’S CHRISTMAS! Let us shout!
Neville Ambrose Xavier