Frederick Locker-Lampson

Frederick Locker-Lampson was an English man of letters and poet known for his light verse, having been a major influence on the development of the style in Victorian England. He was born on May 29, 1821, and passed away on May 30, 1895. Much of his poetry was characterized by its playful wit and humor, exploring themes of daily life and society. He also collected books and was associated with various literary figures of his time. His anthology 'Lyra Elegantiarum' is among his notable works.

May 29, 1821

May 30, 1895

English

Mrs. Smith

Last year I trod these fields with Di,
Fields fresh with clover and with rye;
    They now seem arid!
Then Di was fair and single; how
Unfair it seems on me, for now
    Di's fair, and married!

A blissful swain, I scorn'd the song
Which says that though young Love is strong,
    The Fates are stronger;
Breezes then blew a boon to men,
The buttercups were bright, and then
    This grass was longer.

That day I saw and much esteem'd
Di's ankles, which the clover seem'd
    Inclined to smother;
It twitch'd, and soon untied (for fun)
The ribbon of her shoes, first one,
    And then the other.

I'm told that virgins augur some
Misfortune if their shoe-strings come
    To grief on Friday:
And so did Di, and then her pride

Frederick Locker-Lampson

My Mistress's Boots

They nearly strike me dumb,
And I tremble when they come
    Pit-a-pat:
This palpitation means
These boots are Geraldine's,
    Think of that!

Oh, where did hunter win
So delectable a skin
    For her feet?
You lucky little kid,
You perished, so you did,
    For my sweet!

The faëry stitching gleams
On the sides, and in the seams,
    And it shows
The Pixies were the wags
Who tipt those funny tags
    And these toes.

What soles to charm an elf!
Had Crusoe, sick of self,
    Chanced to view
One printed near the tide,
Oh, how hard he would have tried
    For the two!

For Gerry's debonair
And innocent, and fair
    As a rose;
She's an angel in a frock,
With a fascinating coc...

Frederick Locker-Lampson

Susan, A Kind Providence

He dropt a tear on Susan's bier,
    He seem'd a most despairing swain;
But bluer sky brought newer tie,
    And, would he wish her back again?

The moments fly, and when we die,
    Will Philly Thistletop complain?
She'll cry and sigh, and, dry her eye,
    And let herself be woo'd again.

Frederick Locker-Lampson

Terrible Infant, A

I recollect a nurse call'd Ann,
    Who carried me about the grass,
And one fine day a fine young man
    Came up, and kiss'd the pretty lass.
She did not make the least objection!
    Thinks I, "Aha!
When I can talk I'll tell Mamma"
    And that's my earliest recollection.

Frederick Locker-Lampson