The year's in wane; There is nothing adorning; The night has no eve, And the day has no morning; Cold winter gives warning!
Thomas HoodHow widely its agencies vary,- To save, to ruin, to curse, to bless,- As even its minted coins express, Now stamp'd with the image of Good Queen Bess, And now of a Bloody Mary.
Thomas HoodI remember, I remember The fir-trees dark and high; I used to think their slender tops Were close against the sky; It was a childish ignorance, But now 't is little joy To know I'm farther off from heaven Than when I was a boy.
Thomas HoodAnd ye, who have met with Adversity's blast, And been bow'd to the earth by its fury; To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury - Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime, The regrets of remembrance to cozen, And having obtained a New Trial of Time, Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
Thomas HoodI resolved that, like the sun, as long as my day lasted, I would look on the bright side of everything.
Thomas HoodLives of great men oft remind us as we o'er their pages turn, That we too may leave behind us - Letters that we ought to burn.
Thomas HoodBen Battle was a soldier bold, and used to war's alarms, But a cannon-ball took off his legs, so he laid down his arms.
Thomas HoodO men with sisters dear, O men with mothers and wives, It is not linen you 're wearing out, But human creatures' lives!
Thomas HoodThe Autumn is old; The sere leaves are flying; He hath gather'd up gold, And now he is dying;- Old age, begin sighing!
Thomas HoodOh would I were dead now, Or up in my bed now, To cover my head now, And have a good cry!
Thomas HoodI saw old Autumn in the misty morn Stand shadowless like silence, listening To silence, for no lonely bird would sing Into his hollow ear from woods forlorn, Nor lowly hedge nor solitary thorn;- Shaking his languid locks all dewy bright With tangled gossamer that fell by night, Pearling his coronet of golden corn.
Thomas HoodWhat is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind. What is the soul? It is immaterial.
Thomas HoodIt was a childish ignorance, But now 'tis little joy To know I'm further off from heaven Than when I was a boy.
Thomas HoodNo sun, no moon, no morn, no noon, No dawn, no dusk, no proper time of day, . . . . . . No road, no street, no t' other side the way, . . . . . . No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no buds.
Thomas HoodOur very hopes belied our fears, Our fears our hopes belied; We thought her dying when she slept, And sleeping when she died.
Thomas HoodThe Quaker loves an ample brim, A hat that bows to no salaam; And dear the beaver is to him As if it never made a dam.
Thomas HoodThere are three things which the public will always clamour for, sooner or later; namely: novelty, novelty, novelty.
Thomas HoodSome minds improve by travel, others, rather, resemble copper wire, or brass, which get the narrower by going farther.
Thomas HoodBoughs are daily rifled By the gusty thieves, And the book of Nature Getteth short of leaves.
Thomas Hood