529. The Mahogany Tree by William Makepeace Thackeray

529. The Mahogany Tree by William Makepeace Thackeray

Author: Classic Poetry Aloud December 24, 2009 Duration: 2:22
WM Thackeray read by Classic Poetry Aloud: http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/ Giving voice to the poetry of the past. --------------------------------------- The Mahogany Tree by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 – 1863) Christmas is here: Winds whistle shrill, Icy and chill, Little care we: Little we fear Weather without, Shelter about The Mahogany Tree. Once on the boughs Birds of rare plume Sang, in its bloom; Night-birds are we: Here we carouse, Singing like them, Perched round the stem Of the jolly old tree. Here let us sport, Boys, as we sit; Laughter and wit Flashing so free. Life is but short – When we are gone, Let them sing on Round the old tree. Evenings we knew, Happy as this; Faces we miss, Pleasant to see. Kind hearts and true, Gentle and just, Peace to your dust! We sing round the tree. Care, like a dun, Lurks at the gate: Let the dog wait; Happy we'll be! Drink, every one; Pile up the coals, Fill the red bowls, Round the old tree! Drain we the cup. – Friend, art afraid? Spirits are laid In the Red Sea. Mantle it up; Empty it yet; Let us forget, Round the old tree. Sorrows, begone! Life and its ills, Duns and their bills, Bid we to flee. Come with the dawn, Blue-devil sprite, Leave us to-night, Round the old tree. First aired: 24 December 2009 For hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index. To learn a little more about the poems and poets on Classic Poetry Aloud, join the mailing list. Reading © Classic Poetry Aloud 2009

There’s a particular magic that happens when a great poem is spoken aloud, a texture and rhythm that can sometimes be missed on the page. Classic Poetry Aloud is built on that simple, powerful idea. Each episode is a quiet moment devoted to a single, timeless work, read clearly and without distraction. You’ll hear the familiar cadences of Shakespeare and Wordsworth alongside perhaps lesser-known voices from centuries past, all selected from a growing library that serves as a rich resource for aficionados and newcomers alike. This podcast strips away analysis and commentary, focusing purely on the spoken word. The intention is to make these works more accessible, allowing the listener to be swept up in the original language, the metre, and the emotion as intended by the poet. It’s an experience that often deepens appreciation, revealing new layers in a sonnet you thought you knew or introducing you to a stunning piece you’d never encountered. Tuning in to Classic Poetry Aloud is like having a private, ever-expanding anthology of the world’s finest verse, ready to be heard whenever you need a moment of reflection, beauty, or solace.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Classic Poetry Aloud
Podcast Episodes
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573. Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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572. The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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571. Delight in Disorder by Robert Herrick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:51
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570. Night by William Blake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06
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569. Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:55
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568. Opportunity by James Elroy Flecker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38
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567. Mattins by George Herbert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:09
G Herbert read by Classic Poetry Aloud: http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/ Giving voice to the poetry of the past. --------------------------------------- Mattins by George Herbert (1593 – 1633) I cannot ope mine eyes, B…
566. The Grass so Little has to do by Emily Dickinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02
E Dickinson read by Classic Poetry Aloud: http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/ Giving voice to the poetry of the past. --------------------------------------- The Grass so little has to do by Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)…