Hilaire Belloc

Here you will find the Poem Epitah on the Politician Himself of poet Hilaire Belloc

Epitah on the Politician Himself

Here richly, with ridiculous display, 
The Politician's corpse was laid away. 
While all of his acquaintance sneered and slanged 
I wept: for I had longed to see him hanged. 

Another on the Same

This, the last ornament among the peers, 
Bribed, bullied, swindled and blackmailed for years: 
But Death's what even Politicians fail 
To bribe or swindle, bully or blackmail. 


On Another Politician

The Politician, dead and turned to clay, 
Will make a clout to keep the wind away. 
I am not fond of draughts, and yet I doubt 
If I could get myself to touch that clout. 


On Yet Another

Fame to her darling Shifter glory gives; 
And Shifter is immortal while he lives.


Epitah Upon Himself

Lauda tu Ilarion audacem et splendidum, 
Who was always beginning things and never ended 'em.