My cousin is gay, he went to London only to find out that Big Ben was a clock.

quote by Rodney Dangerfield
Added by Lucian Velea
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Talbragar

Jack Denver died on Talbragar when Christmas Eve began,
And there was sorrow round the place, for Denver was a man;
Jack Denver’s wife bowed down her head—her daughter’s grief was wild,
And big Ben Duggan by the bed stood sobbing like a child.
But big Ben Duggan saddled up, and galloped fast and far,
To raise the biggest funeral ever seen on Talbragar.

By station home
And shearing shed
Ben Duggan cried, “Jack Denver’s dead!
Roll up at Talbragar!”

He borrowed horses here and there, and rode all Christmas Eve,
And scarcely paused a moment’s time the mournful news to leave;
He rode by lonely huts and farms, until the day was done
And then he turned his horse’s head and made for Ross’s Run.
No Bushman in a single day had ridden half so far
Since Johnson brought the doctor to his wife at Talbragar.

By diggers’ camps

[...] Read more

poem by Henry Lawson
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Ben Duggan

Jack Denver died on Talbragar when Christmas Eve began,
And there was sorrow round the place, for Denver was a man;
Jack Denver's wife bowed down her head -- her daughter's grief was wild,
And big Ben Duggan by the bed stood sobbing like a child.
But big Ben Duggan saddled up, and galloped fast and far,
To raise the longest funeral ever seen on Talbragar.

By station home
And shearing shed
Ben Duggan cried, `Jack Denver's dead!
Roll up at Talbragar!'

He borrowed horses here and there, and rode all Christmas Eve,
And scarcely paused a moment's time the mournful news to leave;
He rode by lonely huts and farms, and when the day was done
He turned his panting horse's head and rode to Ross's Run.
No bushman in a single day had ridden half so far
Since Johnson brought the doctor to his wife at Talbragar.

By diggers' camps

[...] Read more

poem by Henry Lawson
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I'm learning English at the moment. I can say 'Big Ben', 'Hello Rodney', 'Tower Bridge' and 'Loo'.

quote by Cher
Added by Lucian Velea
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“Big Ben”

De mortuis nil ni-
Si bonum: R.I.P.:—
No more upbraid him:—
Nay, rather plead his cause,
For Ben exactly was
What Nature made him.

Not radically bad,
He naturally had
No leaning sinwards;
But Nature saw it good
One life-long crave for food
Should rack his inwards.

According to his lights,
And to the appetites
In him implanted,
He did his level best
To feed—and all the rest
He took for granted.

[...] Read more

poem by James Brunton Stephens
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There was a young lady named Jen
Who saw, on a visit, Big Ben;
She climbed to the bell
Which ached every cell
And she swore she'd not do it again.

limerick by John Carter Brown (November 2012)
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The Song of a Statue

A lone baritone balladeeer beneath the Battersea Bridge,
Sings out a sonnet for the Madonna.
Big Ben chimes, he becomes locked in Lover's time,
As his copper-skin is wrapped in night and the cold armor of patina.

c.2009 John Carroll Walls

poem by John Walls
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It was just a typical London flat, but it was in a great neighborhood. It was across from the Playboy Club, diagonally. From one balcony you could read the time from Big Ben, and from the other balcony you could watch the bunnies go up and down.

quote by Harry Nilsson
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You're Not Going To Believe

I tell you
I was kidnapped
by little green men
they beamed me up
to their saucer shaped den
first dissected
then unlike Humpty
they put me
together again
before ejecting me
back to Earth
faster than I could say
Big Ben
with my lucky tale
of being imperfect
thank you
quality control.

poem by Vince Gullaci
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It's a strange message of vanishing moralities

A friend of mine told me about a strange telegram was sent by his late Aunt.
'Sonny! Be careful my dear wanderlust
As I had a bad dream on my sick bed
That you were caught by some police officers
Stealing 'Big Ben', The great bell attached to the 'Westminster Clock'
In the Parliament clock tower, London.'

*To the poetess Tai Chi Italy

poem by Nimal Dunuhinga
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Eeny Meeny Miney Mo

Eeny meeny miney mo
Catch your troubles by the toe
If it hollers let it go
Let it fly away
Eeny meeny miney mo
It's the saying high and low
Hear it everywhere you go
Every time of day
Big Ben rings it
Vallee sings it
Whitewood swings it
Even Mr. Crosby bings it

song performed by Billie Holiday, music by Johnny Mercer, Matty Malneck
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Ode to London

London where parliament convenes,
Home of the pearly kings and queens,
Crowds of people on shopping sprees,
Remember to mind the gap please,
Cockneys bound by ringing Bow bells,
The streets where the Spring Heeled Jack dwells,
Set to the clockwork of Big Ben,
Soon the royal guards change again,
Great treasures such as the crown jewels,
Westminster abbey and st. Paul's,
Road traffic crammed with red buses,
Every other local cusses,
Around the snaking River Thames,
History of the big smoke stems,
Grim streets that have charm regardless,
To the plush Buckingham Palace.

poem by Christian Lacdael
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My Favourite Things

I love lots of things in life. By many things, I'm cheered.
By the time you've read the following list, you may think I'm a bit weird!

I love watching the penguins at the zoo.
I love the giraffes and the zebras too.
I love the sights and sounds of a carousel.
I love the distinctive toll of the Big Ben bell.
There are many shows I love on TV,
Like Doctor Who, Merlin, Coast and Glee.

I love eating out in Wetherspoons pubs.
I love eating Ben & Jerry's ice cream tubs.
I love to eat a slice of gooey chocolate cake.
I love to drink a thick, frothy milkshake.
I love the bassoon's deep resonant tone.
In summer, I love to eat an ice cream cone.

I love walking by the Thames on a sunny day.
I love cooked breakfasts when I go away.
I love watching swans swimming, gliding past.

[...] Read more

poem by Angela Wybrow
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London 2012

London 2012
by godfrey morris

Alignment of stars shoots high
Parading four years' worth
Of bestowed heavenly gifts
East follows West
North greets his South
At the compass of time
Where the Big Ben chimes
Every nation, each tongue
There they fold!
Promise fulfilling golden goal

A flag to wave
A crowd to cheer
A will to give
A song to sing

Once again they have gathered

[...] Read more

poem by Godfrey Morris
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First Things First

There we were, on our flight to London, Paris and Rome
When I realized we must immediately return home
I insisted the Pilot turn the plane around
And get us back down on the ground

The pilot hemmed, jawed and hawed
After all, it was Europe we were headed toward
But when he finally understood, he agreed
To turn the plane around 180 degrees

So we wouldn’t visit the Eiffel Tower, or London’s Big Ben
Forget about the audience with The Pope in the Vatican
It was first things first and I understandably reckoned
That compared to where we were headed, they all came in second

After landing, we grabbed a cab and home we went
Got dollied up for our important event
We dared not be late, couldn’t be tardy
For our annual Writers Club holiday party

poem by Stanley Cooper
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I practised in London for Olympic Heats?

A beggar like old man once read my palm in a city Railway station and he predicted: You'll be a Pilot or a constant runner in your whole life.

Yes, It's getting closer the date,27th of July.
And I practised outside the Olympic stadium
on a lonely street for the 800 meters Relay?
Suddenly I was caught by a police officer
and he questioned me of my valid papers.
Then I said; 'Don't worry Sir!
I am one of your colonial cousins
and I never forget the hospitality.
I have participated the Royal Wedding
and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
with my old Gabardine suit.
Don't you remember once you arrested me
under suspicion of stealing the Big Ben? '
They handcuffed me and I was awake
to the jerk & batton beating in the police car.
I asked my wife where my running shoes?
'O sorry darling! I left them in the police car.'
She's worried and brought the Sugar-meter

[...] Read more

poem by Nimal Dunuhinga
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Cockcrow

Like today, not tomorrow,
In the farmer's grove on tuesday last.
When choices kill naive mice,
And whiskey drops soothe troubled minds.
When snippers loose their narrow aim,
And bullets heal wounded hearts,
Then will I say yes.

When stars loose beams,
When oceans stop their gliding waves,
When earrings etiolate in color,
And angel voices squeak in thundering resound,
Then will I say yes, Yes.

But no. Not if you keep dealing sore hands,
No, I say,
Not even if you kill big ben.

For in these times the world seeks a snigger,
A human element as chief as zephyr.

[...] Read more

poem by Jolomi Amuka
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Jeevanmuktha

Once he feared every omen; tick’ng Big Ben
Thundered cannons; mind’s filled with demons
Lived he phobias unfounded and unknown
Inane adversities even; sent cold sweat down
Wetting head to feet; shattering thoughts sane

But a day came soon like Sun shine
When dawned in him nascent omniscience
That he’s laden himself with false burden
Nescient of the ONE wearing whole creation

Was it due to his strong devotion?
Or result of his rinsed out sins
Knew not but; he became a new man
Like a full Moon out of cloud curtain
Like rosy petals out of coarse sepals

He now submits every poser and pain
At His Lotus Feet with staunch faith
No fear; no favor; he does his chores

[...] Read more

poem by Sathya Narayana
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Jolly Old England

Sultry poetry older than Chaucer
Fresh roses for Elizabeth and Victoria
Horse and carriage, chivalry
Bards and skylarks, royal carpets

Protocol with silver trays and tea
Portraits old with ancient ghosts
Castles decor the novels of romance
Gothic knights alive in immortal pages

Green Scotland, tales of noble Wales
Language like the winds of love
Young Keats and brilliant Shakespeare
J R Tolkien with his beloved Hobbits

Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London
Dracula walks your dark streets
Is Dorian Gray the soul of Oscar Wilde?
Jack the Ripper will always stalk

[...] Read more

poem by Joseph Narusiewicz
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The Hyde 0f Dr Jekyll in a Foggy Day in London Town. Pt 1

Big Ben rings,
Ding Dong the bells do chime for John and Jane’s marriage
Lovers in love travel to London town by golden carriage,
Honeymoon shining above their hotel so cosy and sweet
Not so far from the West ends Entertainment Street.
“Come my darling lets go see a famous London show,
Come, on with a warm coat off we go”,
As they walked arm in arm with a vengeance the fog rolled in
They could not see, thick and cold the fog did bring.
“Look John a house in the mist lets go ask the way”,
Unseen a sign above the gate ‘DR Jekyll’ in the breeze did sway,
A large brass knocker heralded the large butler so tall
The squeaking door opened to a giant shadowed in the hall,
“WE, We I, I, we are lost in the fog can you help us to the West end
“No problem..The doctor is waiting..Step inside a moment my friends.
Their black cat purred then ran outside
For its feline senses urged it to hide.

TO BE CONTINUED

poem by Ken e Hall
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