A riotous pastiche biography. More Poetic Gems (1962) 9. Explore this collection of his work, or try the “Gem of the Day” (above). In his nearly unreadable, rambling biographical notes1, one eventually learns that he sprang from a family of five children and that he worked with his father as a handloom weaver. 1825-1902 • Ranked #137 in the top 500 poets. William McGonagall of Dundee was often cited as the worst poet ever to make his living in the trade. McGonagall published over 200 poems in his lifetime, mostly on printed broadsheets he sold in the street or after giving one of his “entertainments”. And a capacious website, McGonagall-Online, filled with information, provides a McGonagall poetic ‘gem’ each day, inviting readers to register if they would like to receive it by e-mail.” Though most famous for his disaster poems, McGonagall’s range of subjects was actually far wider: The name “Poetic Gems” chosen by McGonagall for his first (and only) book of poems has been adopted and adapted for later collections of his work. Poem Hunter all poems of by William Topaz McGonagall poems. Choose from one of the titles below: A few poems remain unpublished in any printed poetry collection. He wrote about 200 poems, including "The Tay Bridge Disaster" and "The Famous Tay Whale", which are widely regarded as some of the worst in English literature. Note that when a poem was written has no bearing on which of the Poetic Gems books it appears in; the "Address to the Rev. Welcome, sweet Christmas, blest be the morn. Initially he had his poems printed to sell as broadsheets. Poet McGonagall’s Masterpieces (After 1894) 5. He was, according to the census of 1841, born in 1825 or 1826 somewhere in Ireland.His parents were definitely both Irish immigrants, but William himself claimed to have been born in Edinburgh and brought up in the Orkneys. He … why should the lords try to despise, A New Temperance Poem, In Memory Of My Departed Parents, Who Were Sober Living & God Fearing People. Poems and Song (1878) 2. For more info, allow yourself the pleasure of exploring the following website dedicated to the "lore of McGonagall": Poet McGonagall’s Masterpieces (After 1894), The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay and other Disasters (null 1972), Poetic Gems [Duckworth 1980 Version] (null 1980), More Poetic Gems [Duckworth Version] (null 1980), Last Poetic Gems [Duckworth Version] (null 1980), Poetic Gems [Duckworth 1989 Version] (null 1989), The Tay Bridge Disaster and Other Poetic Gems (null 2000), William McGonagall: A Selection (null 2003), unpublished in any printed poetry collection. All of William Topaz McGonagall Poems. By … He won notoriety as an extremely bad poet who exhibited no recognition of, or concern for, his peers' opinions of his work. Their caution proved ill-founded, as the theatre was filled with friends a… He only published one collection of poems in his lifetime, Poetic Gems (Winter, Duncan & Co., 1890), which he often performed publicly.He died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 29, 1902. Born in Ireland in March, 1825, William McGonagall was a poet, actor, and weaver. Poetic Gems [Second Series] (1891) 4. He started to write poetry in 1877. William Topaz McGonagall (1825 – September 29, 1902) was a Scottish weaver, actor, and poet.Born in Edinburgh of Irish parents, he settled in Dundee. On a separate note, look at that smug wee owl! [There was in fact a real William McGonagall, the Scottish notoriously bad, bad poet. Select Poems of McGonagall (1910) 6. “A William Topaz McGonagall Appreciation Society keeps his memory warm in his hometown of Dundee where, until his born-again life as a poet and performer, he was an impoverished hand-loom weaver. A Christmas Carol, A Descriptive Poem On The Silvery Tay, The Tay Bridge Disaster Words would not do justice to this Mixed-reviewed poet. Poetry Search Poetry News Poetry Books Biographies Today in History Best Poems Love Poems Beautiful Poems Happy Poems Sad Poems Christmas Poems Family Poems Birthday Poems Wedding Poems Submit a Poem Edgar Allan Poe Robert Frost Maya Angelou Langston Hughes Walt Whitman List of Poets Though he was yet to show an ambition for poetry, he did show a keenness for acting although the theatre where he performed, Mr Giles' Theatre, would let him perform the title role in Macbethonly if he paid for the privilege in advance. If you liked "William Topaz Mcgonagall Poems" page. William McGonagall from Collected Poems (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2006) (1830 - 1902) William Topaz McGonagall was an eccentric figure who was born in Edinburgh. McGonagall's poems were published by his friends, in a series of books bearing variations on the title Poetic Gems. William Topaz McGonagall (March 1825 – 29 September 1902) was a Scottish poet of Irish descent. He was routinely described as the worst poet ever to commit pen to paper but William McGonagall bashed on for 25 years undeterred by his critics. In his nearly unreadable, rambling biographical notes1, one eventually learns that he sprang from a family of five children and that he worked with his father as a handloom weaver. POETIC GEMS - SELECTED FROM THE WORKS OF WILLIAM MCGONAGALL - Poet and Tragedian, Died in Edinburgh 29th September, 1902 - with Biographical Sketch and Reminiscences by the Author by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL| 1 Jan 1975 By all accounts, McGonagall was a very bad poet, yet his poems have continued to enthrall people since the 19th century. He later moved to Dundee where he remained for much of his life. Alternatively, you can consult a complete list of all McGonagall poems, listed either alphabetically or chronologically. William Topaz McGonagall Poetry Collection from Famous Poets and Poems. These poems may be perused here, grouped either by publication or by subject matter. He only published one collection of poems in his lifetime, Poetic Gems (Winter, Duncan & Co., 1890), which he often performed publicly. It was the day the world’s worst poet turned his back on Dundee to seek fame and fortune in London. Poetic Gems [First Series] (1890) 3. George Gilfillan" and "Requisition to the Queen" were amongst McGonagall's earliest written poems, yet they appear in More Poetic Gems and Last Poetic Gems respe… Site by Extra Connections Ltd. © Chris Hunt 2021. One of Scotland’s best-known poets, William McGonagall was the working-class son of Irish handloom weavers, and was born in Edinburgh and raised in Dundee. A pathetic tale of the sea I will unfold. William Topaz McGonagall lived from 1825 to 29 September 1902. is widely celebrated as the worst poet to have written in the English language, or quite possibly in any other. IN the second part of our trilogy on Scottish eccentrics as portrayed by Hugh MacDiarmid (Christopher Murray Grieve) we approach with some trepidation one of the most famous – or should that be … This is a list of poems by William McGonagall that have been published in book form, either … Choose from one of the titles below: 1. Bio: William Topaz McGonagall was a Scottish weaver, doggerel poet and actor. Dundee Central Library holds a William McGonagall collection in its local history section. 204 poems of William Topaz McGonagall. A list of poems by William McGonagall Born in Ireland in March, 1825, William McGonagall was a poet, actor, and weaver. His poems can be clumsy yet never leave you dissatisfied. https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/william-mcgonagall The Great McGonagall … He was revered as "The World's Worst Poet" composing such rhymes as "The Tay Bridge Disaster". McGonagall was born in Though he’s best known today for The Tay Bridge Disaster, McGonagall actually published well over 200 poems in his lifetime. In the modern era, the entire series is reprinted in a single collection called The Complete McGonagall. Immortal! He won notoriety as an extremely bad poet who exhibited no recognition of, or concern for, his peers' opinions of his work.. Eventually some were published in the Dundee edition of the popular 'Weekly News'. J.K. Rowling chose the name of Hogwart’s professor of transfiguration as a nod to William McGonagall. The name “Poetic Gems” chosen by McGonagall for his first (and only) book of poems has been adopted and adapted for later collections of his work. Last Poetic Gems (1968) 10. He is comically renowned as one of the most loved poets in the English language; his distinctive verse style is often imitated in Private Eye and Spike Milligan was among his many "admirers". 'Twas at the Seige of Matagarda, during the Peninsular War. Famous poet / William Topaz McGonagall. Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! William McGonagall was largely self-taught, appeared in minor parts on stage and gave public recitations. 1825 Mar - 1902 Sep 29 ] As well as writing the only biography of William McGonagall, Dr Watson is the author of the newly-published Protest Stamps and Covers of Robert Burns 1956-1966. Collected Poems of William McGonagall is a special edition book of the works of the notorious Scottish poet, William McGonagall, with 257 poems. Discovering his poetic ability in 1877, William McGonagall has remained one of the most popular of Scotland's alternative poets. Poems are the property of their respective owners. McGonagall wasn’t just a poet, he turned his hand to literary criticism in this essay: For once, McGonagall is unable to put a date to this uplifting tale, Register to receive the “Gem of the Day” by email. The Tay Bridge disaster is probably his most famous poem and tells the tale in grand style. William Topaz McGonagall was born of rather poor Irish parents in Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 1825. William Shakespeare, there's none can you excel, My parents were sober living, and often did pray, Fellow men! The Real McGonagall (1948) 8. This collection of his work includes poems from Poetic Gems, More Poetic Gems and Last Poetic Gems. McGonagall is renowned to be the 'World's Worst Poet' yet still remains in print with a large following. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/poetmcgonagall/remembering-mcgonagall William Topaz McGonagall was born of rather poor Irish parents in Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 1825. William McGonagall: a good poet, a bad poet, or not a poet at all? 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