William Allingham Quotes & Sayings

Bare twigs in April enhance our pleasure; We know the good time is yet to come ... Bare twigs in Autumn are signs for sadness; We feel the good time is well-nigh past. — William Allingham

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren't go a-hunting
For fear of little men. — William Allingham

Tantarrara! the joyous Book of Spring
Lies open, writ in blossoms. — William Allingham

Writing is learning to say nothing, more cleverly each day. — William Allingham

Does not the latent feeling that much of their striving is to no purpose tend to infuse large quantities of sham into men's work? — William Allingham

The mother's kiss is the sweetest thing ever. — William Allingham

By the craggy hill-side,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn-trees
For pleasure here and there.
If any man so daring
As dig them up in spite,
He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night. — William Allingham

Solitude is very sad, Too much company twice as bad. — William Allingham

The trees are Indian Princes, But soon they'll turn to Ghosts; The scanty pears and apples Hang russet on the bough; Its Autumn, Autumn, Autumn late, 'Twill soon be Winter now. Robin, Robin Redbreast, O Robin dear! And what will this poor Robin do? For pinching days are near. — William Allingham

O Spirit of the Summertime! Bring back the roses to the dells; The swallow from her distant clime, The honey-bee from drowsy cells. Bring back the friendship of the sun; The gilded evenings, calm and late, When merry children homeward run, And peeping stars bid lovers wait. Bring back the singing; and the scent Of meadowlands at dewy prime;- Oh, bring again my heart's content, Thou Spirit of the Summertime! — William Allingham

One who can see without seeming to see
That's an observer as good as three. — William Allingham

I have been an 'Official' all my life, without the least turn for it. I never could attain a true official manner, which is highly artificial and handles trifles with ludicrously disproportionate gravity. — William Allingham

Round the world and home again, that's the sailor's way! — William Allingham

A man who keeps a diary pays, Due toll to many tedious days; But life becomes eventful-then, His busy hand forgets the pen. Most books, indeed, are records less Of fulness than of emptiness. — William Allingham

Pluck not the wayside flower;
It is the traveler's dower. — William Allingham

Autumn's the mellow time. — William Allingham

Four ducks on a pond, / A grass-bank beyond, / A blue sky of spring, / White clouds on the wing: / What a little thing / To remember for years - / To remember with tears!. — William Allingham

Not like Homer would I write,
Not like Dante if I might,
Not like Shakespeare at his best,
Not like Goethe or the rest,
Like myself, however small,
Like myself, or not at all. — William Allingham

Soul's Castle fell at one blast of temptation, But many a worm had pierced the foundation. — William Allingham

She danced a jig, she sung a song that took my heart away. — William Allingham

Fairies, arouse! Mix with your song Harplet and pipe, Thrilling and clear, Swarm on the boughs! Chant in a throng! Morning is ripe, Waiting to hear. — William Allingham

If any foes of mine are there, I pardon every one: I hope that man and womankind will do the same by me. — William Allingham

Before a day was over, Home comes the rover, For mother's kiss - sweeter this
Than any other thing! — William Allingham

Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt. — William Allingham