Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore —
No doubt you have heard the name before —
Was a boy who never would shut a door!
The wind might whistle, the wind might roar,
And teeth be aching and throats be sore,
But still he never would shut the door.
His father would beg, his mother implore,
"Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore,
We really do wish you would shut the door!"
Their hands they wrung, their hair they tore;
But Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore
Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore.
When he walked forth the folks would roar,
"Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore,
Why don't you think to shut the door?"
They rigged up a Shutter with sail and oar,
And threatened to pack off Gustavus Gore
On a voyage of penance to Singapore.
But he begged for mercy and said, "No more!
Pray do not send me to Singapore
On a Shutter, and then I will shut the door!"
"You will?" said his parents; "then keep on shore!
But mind you do! For the plague is sore
Of a fellow that never will shut the door,
Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore!"
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Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore
From guest Eveth (contact)
This is so great and wonderful. I remember reading this poem in a book when I was a little girl. Now at least 35 years later, I cannot believe I still remember this poem and I am so thrilled that I was able to find it. -
This poem always puts me in mind of an older poem / ballad written by some Anonymous Scot many years ago.
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/show/122444-Anonymous-British-Get-Up-and-Bar-the-Door
Here it is the parents and not the child refusing to shut the door. -
Poem on Godfrey
From guest Eric Roles (contact)
Absolutely great. Believe it or not we did this in Sri Lanka Now my Wife calls me Godfrey.I just can never shut a door. -
GODFREY GORDON GUSTAVUS GORE
From guest HEMANT (contact)
Their hands they wrung, their hair they tore;
But Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore
Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS NORE? IS IT A RIVER?
The"Nore" is a prominent landmark near the month of the Thames estuary; outward bound ships would drop their river pilot off the Nore. CN-MOD -
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I NEVER FORGOT THE TITLE
From guest SHMIKO COOK (contact)
I READ THIS POEM IN THIRD GRADE WE HAD TO MEMORIZE THE POEM AND RECIET IT IN CLASS. THE FIRST PERSON TO MEMORIZE IT WOULD RECIEVE TREATS AND YES,I WAS THE FIRST ONE.I WAS JUST SITTING AT HOME AND THE TITLE CAME IN MY HEAD AND I COULD NOT REMEMBER ALL OF THE WORDS, SO I GOT ON THE WEB AND FOUND IT HERE ON THIS SITE. -
Great Memory
From guest RHill (contact)
I memorized this poem for English in 2nd Grade 62-63, I forgot the lines but never the title. -
A +++
I was telling my son the story of my eight grade teacher who made people remember and recite this poem if they did not shut the door. I can't believe I found it ... Thanks Mrs. White my eight grade teacher for this great memoryl -
Fantastic
I had just tried to recite this poem to my daughter but couldn't remember all the words. Google brought me straight to you...I love it when techno works!!! and a great site too - I may even enter the competition! -
Cute. How did you ever come up with that name? Very odd...but funny.
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