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BAAL



BABEL
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, undated ("The Seeker thrust ...")
Part 2 of 5 of "The Iron Harp (2)" cycle
A titled version is included in a list of REH poems that Kline possessed.

The original typescript was untitled, title likely from Glenn Lord.
This poem has two versions. One version contains 16 lines.
The second version contains 20 lines and is on the same typescript page as another untitled poem, "Nocturne."


BACK TO THE PRIMATIVE
Alternate titles: THE WORLD GOES BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE, YEA; Untitled ("The world goes back to the primitive, yea")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("The world goes back to the primitive, yea") which is the title where the poem was firstpublished. 

BAD CHOICES
Alternate titles: DRAWERS THAT A GIRL STRIPS DOWN HER THIGHS; Untitled ("Drawers that a girl strips down her thighs")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("Drawers that a girl strips down her thighs") which is the title where thepoem was first published. 

THE BALLAD OF ABE SLICKEMMORE
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. November 1928 ("Salaam: / Listen you ...")
Originally believed to consist of only 4 lines because the remainder of the poem was thought to be part of another letter.
The remainder of the poem (lines 5-76) has been published separately as Untitled ("My brother he was an auctioneer")

THE BALLAD OFBAIBARS
 Alternate title: THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER (verse heading)
This verse is also the last eight lines of the longer Untitled ("Fill up my goblet ...").
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER (verse heading) which is the title where the poem was first published.

A BALLAD OF BEER
Alternate title: Untitled ("I was once, I declare, a grog-shop man")
Originally untitled, from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. June 1930 ("Salaam, Fear Finn: / Then Stein the peddler …")

THE BALLAD OF BUCKSHOT ROBERTS
Alternate title: THE BALLAD OF BUCKSNORT ROBERTS
Incorrectly titled as "Ballad of Bucksnort Roberts" by Dennis McHaney.
Buckshot Roberts was a historical figure, involved in the Lincoln County War, famous for holding up in a cabin and shooting it out with an entire posse, getting killed, naturally.
A titled version is included in a list of REH poems that Kline possessed.

THE BALLAD OF BUCKSNORT ROBERTS
Alternate title: THE BALLAD OF BUCKSHOT ROBERTS
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under THE BALLAD OF BUCKSHOT ROBERTS.
The poem was incorrectly titled as "Ballad of Bucksnort Roberts" by Dennis McHaney in its first appearance.

A BALLAD OF INSANITY
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. late 1928 (“Salaam: / I’ll swear, if I’d laughed much more ...”)

THE BALLAD OF DARK AGNES
Alternate title: verse heading for Chapter 4 of "Sword Woman"

THE BALLAD OF KING GERAINT
Alternate title: Untitled ("This is the tale of a nameless fight")
Title provided by Lenore Preece.
 Portions of this were included in a letter to Harold Preece, postmarked January 4, 1930 ("Yes, we fade from youth swiftly.")

THE BALLAD OF MONK KICKAWHORE
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. late 1928 (“Salaam: / I’ll swear, if I’d laughed much more ...”)

THE BALLAD OF NAUGHTY NELL
Alternate titles: THE BALLAD OF SINGAPORE NELL; THE BALLAD OF NELL OF SINGAPORE
This is a draft version of THE BALLAD OF SINGAPORENELL.  
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under THE BALLAD OF SINGAPORE NELL which is the title where the poem was first published.


THE BALLAD OF NELL OF SINGAPORE
Alternate titles: THE BALLAD OF SINGAPORE NELL; THE BALLAD OF NAUGHTY NELL

For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under THE BALLAD OF SINGAPORE NELL which is the title where the poem was first published.

The untitled draft is from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. after July 1925, before 1930, probably ca. early 1929, (Salaam: / There once was a wicked old elf ...")
There are three versions of this poem, all with different titles.
"The Ballad of Singapore Nell"
"The Ballad of Nell of Singapore"
"The Ballad of Naughty Nell"
Only one version has REH's name in the upper right corner, and so this title ("The Ballad of Singapore Nell") has been assumed to be the final title.
There is also a draft with the exact same content as the final version titled "The Ballad of Nell of Singapore."
There is also an earlier draft of "TheBallad of Singapore Nell" titled "The Ballad of Naughty Nell" with somewhat different content.
There is also an untitled draft from the letter to Tevis Clyde Smith noted above with somewhat different content.

BALLADE
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. probably late 1928, early 1929 (“Salaam: /I have forgotten whether you or Truett ...”)

THE BANDIT
Alternate title: Untitled ("Out of the Texas desert ...")

THE BAR BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

THE BARON AND THE WENCH
Unfinished

THE BARON OF FENLAND
Alternate titles: THE BARON OF FENLAND SAT AT EASE;  Untitled ("The Baron of Fenland sat at ease")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("The Baron of Fenland sat at ease") which is the title where the poem was first published.

THE BARON OF FENLAND SAT AT EASE
Alternate titles: THE BARON OF FENLAND;  Untitled ("The Baron of Fenland sat at ease")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("The Baron of Fenland sat at ease") which is the title where the poem was first published.

BAST
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


BATTER THE BARS
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


A BEGGAR, SINGING WITHOUT
Alternate title: Untitled ("A beggar, singing without")


The original typescript was untitled. The title is likely by Glenn Lord.

BELSHAZZAR
Alternate title: BELSHAZZER
From a letter to Harold Preece, ca. October orearly November 1930 ("Well, Harold, I’m sorry to hear your nose ...")
Titled "Belshazzer" in the original letter.

BELSHAZZER
Alternate title: BELSHAZZAR
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under BELSHAZZAR which is the title where the poem was first published.

BELSHAZZAR’S DREAM
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


BENEATH THE SOUTH SEA MOON
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


BENNY LEONARD
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.

A BETTER HAND TO HOLD
Alternate titles: ROSES LAUGHED IN HER PRETTY HAIR; Untitled ("Roses laughed in her pretty hair")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("Roses laughed in her pretty hair") which is the title where the poem was first published.

BILL BOOZY WAS A PIRATE BOLD
Alternate title: Untitled ("Bill Boozy was a pirate bold")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("Bill Boozy was a pirate bold") which is the title where the poem was first published.

BLACK CHANT IMPERIAL
Alternate title: EMPIRE
Identical to lines 1-4, 9-12, 21-32, 37-40 of "Empire"

BLACK DAWN
A cycle of 5 numbered, untitled poems of, respectively, 20, 13, 26, 32, 14 lines, none published separately.
In 1985, another manuscript was found in which each poem was titled respectively,
"Shadows," "Clouds," "Shrines," "The Iron Harp (2)," and "Invocation".
Originally from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. March 1929 ("Salaam: / Black Dawn")


BLACK HARPS IN THE HILLS
Alternate title: Untitled ("Thomas Fitzgerald, Shane O’Neill")
A shorter and slightly different untitled version of this poem appeared in a letter to Harold Preece, early April 1930 ("Thanks for the St. Padraic’s card.")
A titled version is included in a list of REH poems that Kline possessed.
The titled version contains 53 lines.
The untitled, letter version contains 24 lines.

BLACK MASS
Alternate title: A VISION

An REH titled final draft typescript of "Black Mass" exists.
This poem is nearly identical to "A Vision" in the first two stanzas, but diction changes quite a bit in the last two stanzas.

BLACK MICHAEL’S STORY
Alternate titles: RETRIBUTION; THE SONG OF MURTAGH O’BRIEN; Untitled ("The moon above the Kerry hills ...")

Proposed poetry collection IMAGES OUT OF THE SKY by REH, Tevis Clyde Smith, and Lenore Preece included a poem titled "Black Michael’s Story."

BLACK SEAS
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. June 1929 ("Salaam: / I received an announcement ...")

THE BLACK STONE (verse heading, appearances apart from the story)
In some of these publications the poem is incorporated into August Derleth’s version of "The House in the Oaks."

BLASPHEMY
Alternate titles: I TELL YOU THIS, MY FRIEND; Untitled ("I tell youthis, my friend")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("I tellyou this, my friend") which is the title where thepoem was first published.

THE BLOOD OF BELSHAZZAR (verse heading, appearances apart from the story)
Alternate title: THE SONG OF THE RED STONE

BLOSSOMS & PAGODAS
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


BOB FITZSIMMONS
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


THE BOMBING OF GON FANFEW
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, February 25, 1925 ("Salaam, sahib: / Chapter XIX")

BRAN MAK MORN
A poem title that is included in a Kline agency list of REH poems it possessed after REH’s death, but no copy exists today.


BRAZEN THEWED GIANT
Alternate titles: BRAZEN THEWED GIANT OF A GRIMMER AGE; Untitled ("Brazen thewed giant of a grimmer Age")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("Brazen thewed giant of a grimmer Age") which is the title where thepoem was first published.

BRAZEN THEWED GIANT OF A GRIMMER AGE
Alternate title: BRAZEN THEWED GIANT; Untitled ("Brazen thewed giant of a grimmer Age")
For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("Brazen thewed giant of a grimmer Age") which is the title where the poem was first published.

THE BRIDE OF CUCHULAIN
Three lines were accidentally left out of the original. They are restored in COMPLETE POETRY OF ROBERT E. HOWARD.

THE BROKEN WALLS OF BABEL
Alternate title: Untitled ("The broken walls of Babel")

A BUCCANEER SPEAKS
Alternate title: THE PIRATE (2)
A titled variant version of this poem exists.
Its appearances are documented under THE PIRATE (2).

BUCCANEER TREASURE

THE BUILDERS (1, "We reared up Babel’s towers")
Three versions of "The Builders" have been published;
The first two were two halves of one poem that was split between two typescript pages.
The third was from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. mid-to late-September 1927 (“Salaam: / Seeking cognizance of things ...”).
The first two versions are documented herein as "The Builders" (1) with notes documenting the published quatrains.
The third version is documented herein as "The Builders" (2).
The first complete publication is in THE COLLECTED POETRY OF ROBERT E. HOWARD (2009).

THE BUILDERS (2, "We reared Bab-ilu’s towers")
From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. mid-to late-September 1927 (“Salaam: / Seeking cognizance ofthings ...”).
A slightly different version, likely an early draft.

BUT THE HILLS WERE ANCIENT THEN
Alternate title:  Untitled ("Now is a summer come out of the sea")
George Scithers came up with the title.

BY OLD ABIE GOLDSTEIN’S PAWN SHOP
Alternate titles: COME YOU BACK TO RACHEL SHEA; Untitled ("By old Abie Goldstein’s pawn shop")

For appearances of this poem, refer to the main verse listing under Untitled ("By old Abie Goldstein’s pawn shop") which is the title where the poemwas first published.


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