Words on a string

I've heard that April is National Poetry Month in the US, so hey - why not make it international I thought.

Lovely people on my flist have been posting their favourite poems and I've read so many nice things I wouldn't have come across otherwise.

I can foresee that this might get a bit angsty, so let's start with some short nonsense:

Lion
by Spike Milligan

If you are attacked by a lion
Find fresh underpants to try on
Lay on the ground very still
Pretend you are very ill
Keep like that day after day
Perhaps the lion will go away

Have another one by Milligan, not quite as cheerful:

( Values '67 )

I'm currently studying Norse sagas, and a couple of days ago I came across the song of Helgi Hundingsbane and was quite touched.

The story goes that Helgi fell in love with the valkyrie Sigrun, and as he was mortal and she wasn't, their story ended sadly. Then, when he died, she entered his tomb and they spent a final night together (because yes, he can talk and move about even though he's dead) before he had to head on to Valhalla.

( Excerpt from Helgakviða Hundingsbana II in English )

I realize this post is rather random since I've lost the huge Word file where I had all my favourite poetry. At least I could remember the title of the following one and find it again:

( The More Loving One, by W.H. Auden )

And if you've got a little extra time on your hands, you can go here and read a lovely gothic poem by Neil Gaiman, 'The White Road'.