Forgotten poets of a bygone age - Algernon Charles SwinburneAesthete, alcoholic and masochist Swinburne was one of the most acclaimed poets of his age even while the morality of his life was condemned. If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf, Our lives would grow together In sad or singing... See More » (1)
Poetry by Leigh HuntA bit of Victorian morality from Leigh Hunt which I always liked: Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An angel... See More » (1)
On the Death of MarieI do like to post the occasional romantic poem and especially sonnets. Here is one from the great French sixteenth century poet Pierr de Ronsard with my attempt at a translation Comme on voyst sur la branche au moys de May la rose En sa belle... See More » (1)
The Hireling ShepherdA Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness— Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! Is Edward Fitzgerald’s rather romanticised version of the quatrain from the Rubaiyat of Omar... See More » (1)
Another of Robert’s conquestsSae flaxen were her ringlets, Her eyebrows of a darker hue, Bewitchingly o'er-arching Twa laughing een o' bonie blue. Her smiling, sae wyling, Wad make a wretch forget his woe! What pleasure, what treasure, Unto those rosy lips to grow! Such was my... See More »
What’s eating me?Something has bitten me in a very odd pattern and a very odd place. How on earth did it get there? It’s freezing November there’s no biting insects around. (1)
Qualified for AustraliaSince moving from Leicester Tigers to Western Force it looks like he has settled on Australia for his future. He never got a call up for England and considering the current plight of rugby in Australia they could do with a top class winger who could... See More »
Isabella and the pot of basilI’m always fascinated by this picture by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Holman Hunt. It is a depiction from a scene in Keats poem Isabella. For those of you who don’t know her deceased lover’s head is I the pot of basil! The detail in the picture is... See More » (1)
On the death of Marie - Pierre de RonsardRonsard was always writing poems to his lady loves who had rejected him (nearly all if them). This one written in 1555 mourns the death of Marie Dupin aged 30. Comme on voyst sur la branche au moys de May la rose En sa belle jeunesse, en sa premiere... See More » (1)
Shakespeare sonnetYou can’t beat William for a good love poem. Full many a glorious morning have I seen Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye, Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy; Anon permit the basest... See More » (1)
Did you do any traditional Easter activitiesPace egg rolling, jarping, long rope skipping, dancing round the maypole? I didn’t do any.
Even Homer Sometimes NodsAny examples of bad lines ftom good poets.. What about this from Milton… And young and old come forth to play On a sunshine holiday Appropriate gir the Easter hols perhaps1
More romantic poetryDu bist wie eine Blume, So hold und schön und rein; Ich schau’ dich an, und Wehmuth Schleicht mir in’s Herz hinein. Mir ist, als ob ich die Hände Auf’s Haupt dir legen sollt’, Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte So rein und schön und hold. Heinrich... See More »
The Awakening ConscienceA bit of Victorian morality from Holman Hunt. Somehow Hunt and the model Annie Miller always seem to me to be the inspiration for Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. (1)
A favourite romantic poem - HeidenrösleinSah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn, Röslein auf der Heiden, War so jung und morgenschön, Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn, Sah's mit vielen Freuden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Knabe sprach: "Ich breche dich, Röslein... See More »
Always love this poemTedd a kezed homlokomra, mintha kezed kezem volna. Úgy őrizz, mint ki gyilkolna, mintha éltem élted volna. Úgy szeress, mint ha jó volna, mintha szívem szíved volna. Jószef Attila My attempt at a free verse translation! Put your... See More »
Just one of those romantic poems I rather likeJenny kiss’d me when we met, Jumping from the chair she sat in; Time, you thief, who love to get Sweets into your list, put that in! Say I’m weary, say I’m sad, Say that health and wealth have miss’d me, Say I’m growing old, but add, Jenny kis... See More »
I Hate Bad GrammarI've just noticed this on my profile page, “Your Circle is a list of members you are Following, whom do not currently Follow you back. You may see your Circle's content more frequently." Can somebody please correct it. I get nightmares even... See More »
21
21