A Specimen “Poem”

Mr. Labouchere has inserted two copies of verses in this week’s Truth, about which all the town is laughing. They are written in all good faith by a Mr. Gonagall of Dublin, and are the most delightfully amusing nonsense it is possible to imagine, One poem is on the death of Prince Leopold, the other on the battle of Teb. Two verses from the former run as follows:

Methinks I see him on the platform, singing the Sands of Dee,
The generous-hearted Leopold, the good and the free
Who was manly in his actions, and beloved by his mother
And in all the family we havn’t got such another.

He was of a delicate constitution all his life,
And he was his mother’s favourite, and very kind to his wife,
And he had also a particular liking for his child,
And in his behaviour he was very mild.

This is cruel. Will any benighted Republican be wicked enough to say that Mr. Gonagell’s simple muse is eminently fitted to sound the praises of Royalty. In truth Prince Leopold was a little “mild.”

Eastern Evening News, 13th June 1884

Truth says:—Mr. William McGonagall, of Dundee, has forwarded to me two poems in print, and tells me that I have his permission to publish them. My readers will regret that they are too lengthy for my columns, when they have perused tbe following extracts. The first are from a poem on the death of Prince Leopold :—

ALAS! noble Prince Leopold, he is dead!
Who often has his lustre shed:
Especially by singing for the benefit of Esher School,
Which proves he was a wise prince. and no conceited fool.

Methinks I see him on the platform singing the Sands o’ Dee,
The generous-hearted Leopold, the good and the free,
Who was manly in his actions, and beloved by his mother;
And in all the family she hasn’t got such another.

He was of a delicate constitution all his life,
And he was his mother’s favourite, and very kind to his wife,
And he had also a particular liking for his child,
And in his behaviour he was very mild.

‘Twas on Saturday the 12th of April, in the year 1884,
He was buried in the royal vault, never to rise more
Until the great and fearful judgment-day,
When the last trump shall sound to summon him away.

At half-past ten o’clock the Seaforth Highlanders did appear,
And every man in the detachment his medals did wear;
And they carried their side-arms by their side,
With mournful looks, but full of love and pride.

The coffin was borne by eight Highlanders of his own regiment,
And the fellows seemed to be rather discontent
For the loss of the prince they loved most dear,
While adown their cheeks stole many a silent tear

Then behind the corpse came the Prince of Wales in field marshal uniform,
Looking very pale, dejected, careworn, and forlorn;
Then followed great magnates, all dressed in uniform,
And last, but not least, the noble Marquis of Lorne.

Her Majesty was unable to stand long, she was overcome with grief,
And when the Highlanders lowered the coffin into the tomb she felt relief;
Then the ceremony closed with singing “Lead, kindly light,”
Then the Queen withdrew in haste from the mournful sight.

This is the kind of rubbish that is received in our office by the bushel.

Liverpool Echo, 12th June 1884