ç Words Index
An Anthology of Well Known Verse
© G. P. Jelliss, revised October 2011
We present here some well known verses using the phonetic system proposed in
our page on Simplified Spelling.
Here is a summary of the spelling scheme. q = indefinite vowel, c = u in hut, iy = vowel sound in beet,
uw = vowel sound in blue, qr = err sound, may be reduced to y, w, r where there is no ambiguity,
sh, zh, th, dh as in fish, rouge, itch, edge, j = th in then, x = th in thin, aa as a in path, oo as au in haul,
ee as ai in fairy.
An Anxolodhy ov Wel Nown Vrs
Wintr
Wen aysikqlz hang bai jq wool
And Dik jq sheprd blowz hiz neyl
And Tom berz logz intw jq hool
And milk kcmz frowzen howm in peyl
Wen blcd iz nipt and weyz by fawl
Qen naytly singz jq steering awl
Tuwit! Tuwuw! q mery nowt
Wayl grysy Dhown dcx kyl jq pot.
Wen ool qlawd jq wind dcx blow
And kofing drawnz jq parsqn'z soo
And brdz sit brwding in jq snow
And Mariyqnz nowz luks red and roo
Wen rowsted krabz his in jq bowl
Qen naytly singz jq steering awl
Tuwit! Tuwuw! q mery nowt
Wayl grysy Dhown dcx kyl jq pot.
Wilyqm Sheykspyr
Q Sy Drdh
Ful fajcm fayv jay fajr layz
Ov hiz bownz ar korql meyd
Qowz ar prlz jat wr hiz ayz
Ncxing ov him jat dcx feyd
Bct dcx scfr q sy-theyndh
Intw scmxing rith and streyndh
Sy-nimfs awrly ring hiz nel
Hark! Naw ay hyr jem —
Ding-dong bel!
Wilyqm Sheykspyr
Dhabrwoky
Twoz brilig and jq slayjy towvz
Did dhayr and gimbql in jq weyb
Ool mimzy wr jq borogowvz
And jq mowm raaxs awtgreyb
Byweer jq Dhabrwok, may scn!
Jq dhooz jat bayt, jq klooz jat kath!
Byweer jq Dhcbdhcb brd, and shcn
Jq frwmiycs Bandrsnath!
Hi tuk hiz vorpql sord in hand:
Long taym jq manksowm fow hi soot-
Sow rested hi bay jq Tcmtcm try,
And stud qwayl in xoot.
And, az in cfish xoot hi stud,
Jq Dhabrwok, wij ayz ov fleym,
Keym wifling xrw jq tcldhy wud
And brbqld az it keym!
Wcn, tw! Wcn, tw! And xrw and xrw
Jq vorpql bleyd went snikr-snak!
Hi left it ded, and wij its hed
Hi went galcmfing bak.
"And hast jaw sleyn jq Dhabrwok?
Kcm tw may armz, may bymish boy!
Ow frabdhcs dey! kalw! kaley!"
Hi thortqld in hiz dhoy.
'Twoz brilig and jq slayjy towvz
Did dhayr and gimbql in jq weyb:
Ool mimzy wr jq borogowvz,
And jq mowm raaxs awtgreyb.
Luwis Karol
Sy Fyvr
Ay mcst gow dawn tw jq sy qgen
Tw jq lownly sy and jq skay
And ool ay aask iz q tool ship
And q star tw styr hr bay
And jq hwyl'z kik and jq wind'z song
And jq hwayt seylz sheyking
And q grey mist on jq sy'z feys
And q grey doon breyking.
Ay mcst gow dawn tw jq sy qgen
For jq kool ov jq rcning tayd
Iz q wayld kool and q klyr kool
Jat mey not by dynayd
And ool ay aask iz q windy dey
Wij jq hwayt klawdz flaying
And jq flcng sprey and jq blown spywm
And jq sy-gclz kraying.
Ay mcst dawn tw jq sy qgen
Tw jq veygrqnt dhipsy layf
Tw jq gcl'z wey and jq hweyl'z wey
Weer jq wind'z layk q hweted nayf
And ool ay aask iz q mery yarn
From q laafing felow rowvr
And kwayet slyp and q swyt drym
Wen jq long trik's owvr.
Dhon Meyzfyld
Kargowz
Kwinkwerym ov Ninevaa from distqnt Ofyr
Rowing howm tw heyven in scny Palestayn
Wij q kargow ov ayvory and eyps and pykoks
Sandqlwud, sydarwud and swyt wayt wayn.
Steytly Spanish galiyon kcming from jy ismcs
Diping xrw jq tropiks bay jq paam-gryn shorz
Wij q kargow ov dayamondz, emeraldz, amexists
Towpazez and sinamon and gold moydorz
Drty British kowstr wij q sut-keykd smowk-stak
Bcting xrw jq thanel in jq mad marth deyz
Wij q kargow ov Tayn kowl, rowd reyl, pig-led,
Fayrwud, ayonweer and thyp tin treyz.
Dhon Meyzfyld
Kwblq Kaan
In Zanadw did Kwblq Kaan
Q steytly plezhr-dowm dykry:
Weer Alf, jq seykred rivr, ran
Xrw kavrnz mezhrles tw man
Dawn tw q scnles sy.
Sow tways fayv maylz ov frtayl grawnd
Wij woolz and tawrz wr grdeld rawnd
And jeer wr gardenz brayt wij sinyuwcs rilz
Weer blosomd meny an insens-beering try;
And hyr wr forests eynshent az jq hilz,
Enfolding scny spots ov grynery.
But ow, jat dyp rowmantik kazqm with slaanted
Dawn jq gryn hil axwort q sydarn kcvqr!
Q savidh pleys! az howly and enthaanted
Az eer bynyx q weyning mwn woz hoonted
Bay wuman weyling for hr dymon lcvr!
And from jis kazqm, wij sysles trmoyl syjing,
Az if jis rx in faast xik pants wr bryjing,
Q mayty fawnteen mowmently woz forst;
Qmid hwz swift haaf-intrmitent brst
Hiwdh fragments voolted layk rybawnding heyl,
Or thafy greyn bynyx jq xreshrz fleyl:
And 'mid jyz daansing roks at wcns and evr
It flcng cp mowmently jq seykred rivr.
Fayv maylz miyandqring wij q meyzy mowshqn
Xrw wud and deyl jq seykred rivr ran,
Jen rythd jq kavrnz mezhrles tw man,
And sank in tywmclt tw q layfles owshqn:
And 'mid jis tywmclt Kwblq hrd from far
Ansestrql voysez profesaying wor!
Jq shadow ov jq dowm ov plezhr
Flowted midwey on jq weyvz;
Weer woz hrd jq mingqld mezhr
From jq fawnteyn and jq keyvz.
It woz q mirqkql ov reer dyvays,
Q scny plezhr-dowm wij keyvz ov ays!
Q damzel wij q dclsimr
In q vizhon wcns ay soo:
It woz an Abisiniqn meyd,
And on hr dclsimr shy pleyd,
Singing ov Mawnt Aboraa.
Kud ay ryvayv wijin my,
Hr simfony and song,
Tw scth q dyp dylayt 'twud win my,
Jat wij mywzik lawd and long,
Ay wud bild jat dowm in eer,
Jat scny dowm! Jowz keyvz ov ays!
And ool hw hrd shud sy jem jeer,
And ool shud kray, Byweer! Byweer!
Hiz flashing ayz, hiz flowting heer!
Wyv q srkql rawnd him xrays,
And klowz yor ayz wij howly dred,
For hi on hcny-dhw hax fed,
And drcnk jq milk ov Paradays.
Samyuwel Teylor Kowlridh
Pipq'z Song
Jq yir'z at jq spring
And dey'z at jq morn
Morning'z at seven
Jq hil-sayd'z dhw-prld
Jq lark's on jq wing
Jq sneyl'z on jq xorn
God'z in hiz heven
Ool'z rayt wij jq wrld!
Robrt Brawning
Kawnsel tw Grlz
Gajr yi rowzbcdz wayl yi mey
Owld taym iz stil qflaying
And jis seym flawqr jat smaylz twdey
Twmorow wil by daying
Jq gloriycs lamp ov heven, jq Scn,
Jq hayqr hi'z qgeting
Jq swnqr wil hiz reys by rcn
And nyrqr tiz tw seting
Jat eydh iz best with iz jq frst
Wen ywx and blcd ar wormr
Bct biying spent jq wrs, and wrst,
Taymz stil scksyd jq formr
Jen by not koy but ywz yor taym
And wayl yi mey gow mary
For having lost bct wcns yor praym
Yi mey for evr tary
Robrt Herik
Eledhy Riten in q Kcntry Thrthard
Jq krfyw towlz jq nel ov parting dey,
Jq lowing hrd wayndz slowly owr jq ly,
Jq plawman howmwqd wendz hiz wyry wey,
And lyvz jq wrld tw darknes and tw my.
Naw feydz jq glimqring landskeyp on jq sayt,
And ool ji eer q solqm stilnes howldz,
Seyv weer jq bytql hwylz hiz drowning flayt,
And drawzy tinklingz lcl jq distqnt fowldz;
Seyv jat from yondr ayvy-manteld tawr
Jq mowping awl dcx tw jq mwn kompleyn
Ov scth az, wondering nyr hr sykret bawr,
Mowlest hr eynshqnt solitqry reyn.
Bynyx jowz rcged elmz, jat yw-try'z sheyd,
Weer hyvz jq trf in meny q mowldring hyp,
Yth in hiz narow sel for evr leyd,
Jq rwd forfaajrz ov jq hamlet slyp.
Jq bryzy kool ov insens-bryjing Morn,
Jq swolow twitqring from jq stroo-bilt shed,
Jq kok's shril klariyon, or ji ekowing horn,
Now mor shal rawz jem from jeer lowly bed.
For jem now mor jq bleizing harx shal brn,
Or bizy haws-wayf play hr yvning keer:
Now thildren rcn tw lisp jeer sayr'z rytrn,
Or klaym hiz nyz ji envyd kis tw sheer.
Oft did jq harvest tw jeer sikql yiyld,
Jeer furow oft jq stcbqn glyb haz browk:
Haw dhokcnd did jey drayv jer tym qfyld!
Haw bawd jq wudz bynyx jeer strdy strowk!
Let not ambishqn mok jeer ywsful toyl,
Jeer howmly dhoyz, and destiny obskywr;
Nor Grandhwr hyr wij q disdeynful smayl
Jq short and simpql anqlz ov jq pwr.
Jq bowst ov herqldry, jq pomp ov pawr,
And ool jat bywty, ool jat welx eer geyv,
Qweyts qlayk j'inevitqbql awr:
Jq paajz ov glory lyd bct tw jq greyv.
Nor yw, yi Prawd, impywt tw jyz jq foolt,
If Memory owr jeer Twm now Trowfyz reyz,
Weer xrw jq long-droon ayl and freted voolt
Jq pyling anxem swelz jq nowt ov preyz.
Kan storyd qrn or animeyted bcst
Bak tw its manshon kool jq flyting brex?
Kan Onqr'z voys provowk jq saylent dcst,
Or flatery swj jq dcl kowld yr ov dex?
Prhaps in jis neglekted spot iz leyd
Scm hart wcns pregnant wij selesthal fayr;
Hands, jat jq rod ov empayr mayt hav sweyd,
Or weykd tw ekstasy jq living layr.
Bct Nolidh tw jeer ayz hr ampql peydh
Rith wij jq spoylz ov taym did neer cnrowl;
Thil penywry ryprest jeer nowbql reydh,
And frowz jq dhyniyal kcrent ov jq sowl.
Ful meny q dhem ov pywrest rey seryn
Jq dark cnfajomd keyvs ov owshqn beer:
Ful meny q flawqr iz born tw blcsh cnsyn,
And weyst its swytnes on jq dezrt eer.
Scm vilidh Hampden jat wij doontles brest
Jq litql tayrqnt ov hiz fyldz wijstud,
Scm mywt ingloriycs Milton, hyr mey rest,
Scm Kromwel giltles ov hiz kcntry'z blcd.
J'aplooz ov list'ning senets tw komaand,
Jq xrets ov peyn and ruwin tw dispayz,
Tw skatqr plenty owr q smayling land,
And ryd jeer history in q neyshqn's ayz,
Jeer lot forbeyd: nor srkcmskraybd alown
Jeer growing vrtywz, but jeer kraymz konfaynd;
Forbeyd tw weyd xrw slootqr tw q xrown,
And shct jq geyts ov mrsy on mankaynd,
Jq strcgling pangz ov konshcs trwx tw hayd,
Tw kwenth jq blcshez ov indhenywcs sheym,
Or hyp jq shrayn ov Lckshwry and Prayd
Wij insens kindqld at jq Mywzez fleym.
Far from jq mading krawd's ignowbql strayf
Jer sowbr wishez nevr lrnd tw strey;
Qlong jq kwl sykwestrd veyl ov layf
Jey kept jq noyzles tenor ov jer wey.
Yet yv'n jyz bownz from insclt tw prowtekt
Scm freyl memoriyal stil erekted nay,
Wij cnkwx raymz and sheyples skclptywr dekt,
Implorz jq paasing tribywt ov a say.
Jer neym, jer yirz, spelt bay j'cnleterd mywz,
Jq pleys ov feym and eledhy scplay:
And meny q howly tekst qrawnd shy strwz,
Jat tyth jq rcstik moralist tw day.
For hw, tw dcm forgetfulnes q prey,
Jis plyzing ankshcs biying eer ryzaynd,
Left jq worm prysinkts ov jq thyrful dey,
Nor kaast wcn longing lingering luk byhaynd?
On scm fond brest jq parting sowl rylayz,
Scm paycs drops jq klowzing ay rykwayrz;
Y'n from jq twm jq voys ov Neytywr krayz,
Y'n in awr Ashez liv jer wownted fayrz.
For ji, hw, mayndful ov j'cnonqrd ded,
Dcst in jyz laynz jer artles teyl ryleyt;
If thaans, bay lownly kontempleyshqn led,
Scm kindred spirit shal inkwayr jay feyt,
Haply scm hory-heded Sweyn mey sey,
'Oft hav wy syn him at jq pyp ov doon
Brcshing wij heysty steps jq dhwz qwey
Tw myt jq scn cpon ji cpland loon.
'Jer at jq fut ov yondr noding byth
Jat ryjz its owld fantastik rwts sow hay,
Hiz listles lengx at nwntayd wud hi streth,
And por cpon jq bruk jat babqlz bay.
'Hard bay yon wud, naw smayling az in skorn,
Mctering hiz weywqd fansyz hi wud rowv,
Naw drwping, wowful won, layk wcn forlorn,
Or kreyzd wij ker, or krost in howples lcv.
'Wcn morn ay mist him on jq kcstomd hil,
Qlong jq hyx and nyr hiz feyv'rit try;
Qncjr keym, nor yet bysayd jc ril,
Nor up jq loon, nor at jq wud woz hi;
'Jq nekst wij drdhez dhw in sad arey
Slow xrw jq thrth-wey paax wy soo him born.
Qprowth and ryd (for jaw kanst ryd) jq ley
Greyvd on jq stown bynyx yon eydhed xorn.'
Ji Epitaaf
Hir rests hiz hed cpon jq lap ov rx
Q ywx tw fortywn and tw feym cnnown.
Feer Sayens frawnd not on hiz hcmbql brx,
Qnd Melankoly markd him for hr own.
Laadh woz hiz bawnty, hiz sowl sinsyr,
Hevqn did q rekompens az laadhly send:
Hi geyv tw Mizery ool hi had, q tyr,
Hi geynd from Hevqn ('twoz ool hi wishd) q frend.
Now faajr syk hiz merits tw disklowz,
Or droo hiz freyltyz from jer dred qboud,
(Jer jey qlayk in trembling howp rypowz,)
Jq buzqm ov hiz faajr and hiz God.
Tomqs Grey
Ozimandiyas
Ay met q travelr from an antyk land
Hw sed: Tw vaast and trcnkles legz ov stown
Stand in jq dezrt. Nyr jem, on jq sand,
Haaf scnk, q shatrd vizidh layz, hwz frawn,
And rinkqld lip, and snyr ov kowld komaand,
Tel jat its skclptor wel jowz pashonz red
With yet srvayv, stampt on jyz layfles xingz,
Jq hand jat mokt jem, and jq hart jat fed:
And on jq pedestql jyz wrdz qpyr:
'May neym iz Ozimandiyas, King ov Kingz:
Luk on may wrks yi Mayty, and dyspeer!'
Ncxing bysaydz rymeynz. Raund jq dykey
Ov jat kolosql rek, bawndles and beer
Jq lown and level sandz streth far qwey.
Prsy Bish Shely
Tw Ootqm
Syzon ov mists and melow frwtfulnes
Klows buzqm-frend ov ji matywring scn;
Konspayring wij him haw tw lowd and bles
Wij frwt jq vaynz jat rawnd jq xath-yvz rcn;
Tw bend wij apqlz jq mosd kotidh-tryz,
And fil ool frwt wij raypnes tw jq kor;
Tw swel jq gwrd, and plcmp jq heyzql shelz
Wij q swyt krnel; tw set bcding mor,
And stil mor, leytr flawrz for jq byz,
Cntil jey xink worm deyz wil nevr sys,
For Scmr haz owr-brimd jer klamy selz.
Hw hax not syn jy oft amid jay stor?
Scmtaymz huwevr syks qbrood mey faynd
Jy siting kerles on q granary flor,
Jay heer soft-lifted bay jq winowing wind;
Or on q haaf-rypd furow sawnd qslyp,
Drawzd wij jq fywm ov popyz, wayl jay huk
Sperz jq nekst swoox and ool its twayned flawrz:
And scmtaymz layk q glynr jaw dcst kyp
Stedy jay leyden hed qkros q bruk;
Or bay q saydr-pres, wij peyshqnt luk,
Jaw wothest jq laast wzingz awrz bay awrz.
Wer ar jq songz ov Spring? ay, wer ar jey?
Xink not ov jem, jaw hast jay mywzik tw,--
Wayl baared klawdz blwm jq soft-daying dey,
And tcth jq stcbql-pleynz wij rowzy hyw;
Jen in q weylful kwayr jq smool nats moorn
Qmcng jq rivr shalowz, born qloft
Or sinking az jq layt wind livz or dayz;
And ful-grown lams lowd blyt from hily boorn;
Hedh-krikets sing; and naw wij trebql soft
Jq red-brest wisqlz from q garden-kroft;
And gajqring swolowz twitr in jq skayz.
Dhon Kyts
Scm Nrsery Raymz
Ay had q litql nct try, ncxing wud it ber
Bct q silvr nctmeg and q golden per
Jq King ov Speyn'z dootr keym tw vizit my
And ool for jq seyk ov may litql nct try
Baa baa, blak shyp, hav yw eny wul?
Yes sr, yes sr, xry bagz ful
Wcn for jq maastr, wcn for jq deym
And wcn for jq litql boy hw livz dawn jq leyn
Humty Dumty sat on q wool
Humty Dumty had q greyt fool
Ool jq King’z horsez and ool jq King’z men
Kudqn't put Humty twgejr qgen
Hey didql didql, jq kat and jq fidql
Jq kaw dhcmt owvr jq mwn
Jq litql dog laafd tw sy scth fcn
And jq dish ran qwey wij jq spwn.