The Poetry Corner

Ode To Peace. - Written On The Night Of My Mistress's Grand Rout.

By Thomas Hood

Oh Peace, oh come with me and dwell - But stop, for there's the bell. Oh Peace! for thee I go and sit in churches On Wednesday, when there's very few In loft or pew - Another ring, the tarts are come from Birch's. Oh Peace! for thee I have avoided marriage - Hush! there's a carriage. Oh Peace! thou art the best of earthly goods - The five Miss Woods! Oh Peace! thou art the goddess I adore - There come some more. Oh Peace! thou child of solitude and quiet - That's Lord Dunn's footman, for he loves a riot! Oh Peace! Knocks will not cease. Oh Peace! thou wert for human comfort plann'd - That's Weippert's band. Oh Peace! how glad I welcome thy approaches - I hear the sound of coaches. Oh Peace! oh Peace! another carriage stops - It's early for the Blenkinsops. Oh Peace! with thee I love to wander, But wait till I have showed up Lady Squander, And now I've seen her up the stair, Oh Peace! - but here comes Captain Hare. Oh Peace! thou art the slumber of the mind, Untroubled, calm and quiet, and unbroken, - If that is Alderman Guzzle from Portsoken, Alderman Gobble won't be far behind. Oh Peace! serene in worldly shyness, - Make way there for his Serene Highness! Oh Peace! if you do not disdain To dwell amongst the menial train, I have a silent place and lone, That you and I may call our own; Where tumult never makes an entry - Susan! what business have you in my pantry? Oh Peace! but there is Major Monk, At variance with his wife - Oh Peace! And that great German, Vander Trunk, And that great talker, Miss Apreece; Oh Peace! so dear to poet's quills - Oh Peace! our greatest renovator; I wonder where I put my waiter - Oh Peace! but here my Ode I'll cease, I have no peace to write of Peace!