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Richard Realf

I lived from 1834-1878. I was from the USA, and am in the Americas category.

Brief biographical note:



Born at Framfield, Sussex, England, June 14, 1834;

Moved  to the United States in 1854;

killed himself at Oakland, California, October 28, 1878.

My poetry

  • De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum.
    When for me this end has come and I am dead,
    and the little voluble, chattering daws of men
    41 lines
  • Apocalypse
    Straight to his heart the bullet crushed;
    Down from his breast the red blood gushed,
    49 lines
  • Indirection
    Fair are the flowers and the children, but their subtle suggestion is fairer;
    Rare is the rose-burst of dawn, but the secret that clasps it is rarer;
    20 lines, 1 comment
  • My Slain
    This sweet child which hath climbed upon my knee,
    This amber-haired, four-summered little maid,
    43 lines
  • An Old Man's Idyll
    By the waters of Life we sat together,
    Hand in hand in the golden days
    20 lines
  • My Sword Song
    Day in, day out, through the long campaign,
    I march in my place in the ranks;
    40 lines
  • Patience
    The swift years bring but slow development
    Of the world’s majesty; for Freedom is
    15 lines
  • Interpretation
    A dreaming Poet lay upon the ground,
    He plucked the grasses with his listless hands.
    12 lines
  • The Word
    O Earth! Thou hast not any wind that blows
    Which is not music; every weed of thine
    15 lines
  • An Epitaph
    This poet was very wealthy. If he missed
    Worlds’ honors, and worlds’ plaudits, and the wage
    15 lines

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