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Open Poetry #43
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TheAnonDavid
Member
since 2008-08-28
Posts 237
UK

0 posted 2008-09-10 05:14 PM



I weep for English poetry, is it dead?
I weep for English poets, turned to dust.
I weep for this fair language, lately fled
To realms of darkness, as we felt it must.
  
I weep for names forgotten, long since past,
Whose words once leapt in glory from the page.
I weep in saddest mem'ry of the vast
And endless range of works that should not age.
  
I weep for names forgotten, carve their words
In deepest cuts across the face of time.
Or stab your hearts with fabled, magic swords
And carve their names in blood, those names sublime.
  
I weep for English poetry, did it die?
Say, did l hear the muffled drum of death?
And as I weep, my tears shall multiply
As I pray not to hear its dying breath.
  
I weep for names forgotten, heaven's list,
A catalogue of glory, steeped in years;
A roll of honour, gazed on through the mist
Of never ending, salty, choking tears.
  
Oh! weep for English poetry, show your pride.
Remember lines of love, so fierce, intense.
Remember how they moved and satisfied;
Remember how they gratified your sense.
  
I weep for names forgotten, as I try
To call the roll of honour. clear and plain.
I weep for names forgotten, let me sigh
As each name haunts my mem'ry, fills my brain.
  
Let Milton, Keats and Byron take their place
With Shelley and the greatest Bard of all;
And Marlowe, Pope and Donne  must always grace
The list of names forgotten, names writ tall.
  
I weep for English poetry, tend its grave.
I weep for words forgotten, buried deep.
I weep for names ignored, so proud and brave,
I weep as they endure eternal sleep.
  
I ask you to weep with me, share my tears.
And let us weep together, hand in hand.
Then maybe if we share these darkest fears,
Then maybe we will start to understand.
  
We weep for English poetry, is it dead?
Or can our tears revive it, make it whole?
If you and I remember, heaven-led,
Our tears of sad remorse may save its soul.

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas

© Copyright 2008 David M M (UK) - All Rights Reserved
WTBAKELAR
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 2008-09-09
Posts 1089
Utah, USA
1 posted 2008-09-10 05:53 PM


How cool is this.  I wish I had more time to devote to learning how to write like the poets of olde. (Like the extra e?)  Very inlightening and thoughtful. well done.
Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2 posted 2008-09-10 06:06 PM


TheAnonDavid,

I’d try cutting this down to a classic Elizabethan sonnet with the standard fourteen lines, ending with an original couplet.

BTW, English poetry is alive and well.

Bobby

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
3 posted 2008-09-10 07:16 PM


I love English poetry and it has no equal as far as I am concerned. I think that is what I like about your poetry, David. It reminds me of those poets of old.
                                    Ida

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