Poetry Lord Byron

I’m not into nineteenth century Romantic Poets.

But this one stands out

So we’ll go no more a roving, written in 1817.

So we’ll go no more a roving
so late into the night.
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears it’s sheath,
And the soul outwears the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And Love itself have rest.

Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we’ll go no more a roving,
By the light of the moon.

I always think of my first fiancée when I read this. And the time we went to Newstead Abbey, home of Byron.

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ninalanyon · 61-69, T

If Byron were alive today he would be a a rock star to out do them all. He died aged 36 having swam the Hellespont, trained revolutionaries, written seven volumes of literary works, two of letters. and had affairs with dozens of women.

Childe Harold
CANTO THE FIRST.
II
Whilome in Albion's isle there dwelt a youth,
Who ne in virtue's ways did take delight;
But spent his days in riot most uncouth,
And vexed with mirth the drowsy ear of Night.
Ah, me! in sooth he was a shameless wight,
Sore given to revel and ungodly glee;
Few earthly things found favour in his sight
Save concubines and carnal companie,
And flaunting wassailers of high and low degree.

thewindupbirdchronicles · 46-50, M

@ninalanyon Smart summarization and finding in parable. He was rallied against in morals, just as rock stars often are now.... coincidence? Save the earlier poets, artists had more class in language. I wonder how that is?

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@thewindupbirdchronicles I suspect it has as much to do with the audience as the writer. Byron was independently wealthy and well educated so he could afford to write, there was no Internet, no television, no radio, only books and newspapers and only well off, generally well educated, people bought books so they had to be of a kind that would appeal to that audience.

In a way his audience had more real leisure than we do, they had fewer entertainments competing for their attention. So they could devote the time and effort needed to appreciate long works like Childe Harold.

It was a world without music on tap, without video on demand; with slow, inconvenient, and expensive transport.

thewindupbirdchronicles · 46-50, M

@ninalanyon I love your interpretations, so I'm happy to read this. I think it's impossible to know the past this way, though I'd add more they took more to literature than us. Education rates were lower, and the "posh" received education more then. The more educated probably felt it of more esteem to be proud then, while making fun of the lower classes, and now once everything is convenient and taken for granted, we lessen the material worth of language.

I also know I have spent hours on here, when I could just be reading books, poetry, and other things I would love.

MoonlightLullaby

Beautiful poem for that era, indeed...
While most of the world loves Shakespeare, I've always been a lover of Byron. Here's the sonnet set to music although they left a stanza out...[media=https://youtu.be/4-Xor0Fb2tY]

SW-User

Ever notice how the Romantic poets romanticized the night?

She walks in beauty, like the night...

SW-User

@SW-User I’m sure we have all been there.

thewindupbirdchronicles · 46-50, M

My only knowledge of him is through a friend, not that she mentions him much, I just knew to look up. I also know him through Cohen, from him covering 'Go No More A-Rovin'. And since that spoke to my heart, from Cohen, I of course dived a little further in his homage to the poets of yesterday.

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