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Open Poetry #42
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Grave Ode
| Open Poetry #42 |
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Grave Ode |
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Zyskandar A. Jaimot Member
since 2008-02-06
Posts 76FL-USA |
Grave Ode on 2 Textbook Figures Gentle Percy Bysshe and instinctive Johnny Keats buried in this eternal city. These fair poets consigned off beaten streets with only a few soft daffodils for company. While all around the Coliseum echoes roar of wild beasts calling to defile beauty, which creeps from flower to metaphor. A bruising contact with English style motoring, as these mad Romans rush about, in compact cars always ready to yell and shout at silent collections of legless stone statues. All made grimy by a world's ordinary decay. A romantic ellipsis that would lose itself under fig leaves, hiding daring tropes away from eyes of a video generation of foreign uncaring young. These descendants of Ceasars consumed with the byte of sex and violence which reduces glorious art to moribund remembrances of two friends, chained by moonlight. Their plots buried and ignored by pushy people hoping not to be bored by current selections of the world's cable channel. Tuned to fit the fantasies of today. Never hearing the odes of non-pareill. Composed by such men who could display. a sense of purity which overcomes consideration. While those caught in traffic as stagnant as any sewage backup, curse, in expostulation. Thirsting for some other intoxicant. Never listening to calm voices which totally satisfy the slowing of time, in words captured by a sigh. |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Here I am, one of those mad Romans rushing about … It's always a question of perception … I think the Cemetery (for non catholic souls - also called in the past Cemetery of the English) you are talking about is one of the most beautiful, peaceful places in this wonderful Eternal City to rest. I have two friends buried there, a German lady and a Swiss lady who were protestants and so I go visit sometimes. At the closing time they diffuse a wonderful melody that seems to descend from Heaven and people tiptoe out in silence, respecting the sacredness of the place. First remark: the maintenance of the cemetery is not a task of Roman authority, but of the foreign authority representatives. So if you found it was neglected for once don't blame the Romans! What you say: "the descendants of Caesars are consumed with the byte of sex and violence which reduces glorious art to moribund remembrances of two friends, chained by moonlight" is really a bit heavy, except the poetic final expression! Violence is surely not a characteristic of Rome only? Rome is so immensely rich in art, that it is also very difficult to maintain everything in perfect state. I understand that you love John Keats and Percy Shelley. The epitaph (commissioned by his friends Joseph Severn and John Brown) on John Keats' grave says: « This grave contains all that was mortal, of a YOUNG ENGLISH POET, who on his death bed, in the bitterness of his heart, at the malicious power of his enemies, desired these words to be engraved on his tombstone: Here lies one whose name was writ in water » At a small distance there is a marble flag with a reply to this inscription which says: Keats! Se il tuo caro nome fu scritto sull'acqua, ogni goccia è caduta dal volto di chi ti piange. (Keats! If your beloved name was written on water, every drop has fallen from the eyes of those who mourn you). Interesting write no doubt, but you exaggerated in critics to Romans!! Margherita  |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Found the site of the cemetery for those interested: http://www.protestantcemetery.it/english/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/ |
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Zyskandar A. Jaimot Member
since 2008-02-06
Posts 76FL-USA |
to m - much thanks for the read/extensive comments a pleasure to find someone else who is a 'fan' of this small alien cemetery at/or near the bottom of the 'Spainish Steps' in ROMA actually as for the 'Romans' i thought i had not exaggerated at all! Ha! i still find it extremely odd - well perhaps no more than the English 'love' of room temperature beer - that two greats of English neigh World Poetry - should be buried so close to the Caesars in Italy!?! PB + JK stories/poems thrill us to this day - doubt how many ROMANS OR FOR THAT MATTER OTHERS IN THE WORLD WOULD GUESS THEY ARE BURIED THERE? My thanks for listing the net link to the 'cemetery' my observations of 'mad Romans rushing about' may seem hypercritical - but you are correct when they could be applied to most other races/countries i am 'slightly surprised' that you did not comment or allude to many of PB's or JK's 'phrases' from poems that were used to end certain sections - IN ANY EVENT my thanks and appreciation for your comments and your interest in my attempt in a mere ODE to honour these two "...fair poets..." regards zaj |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Very Interesting ARCTIC WIND |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I am one who always enjoyed both Shelley and Keats, and found this write to be an interesting snapshot of the juxtaposition of modern culture alongside such artistically and historically important figures. |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
"It might make one in love with death, to think that one should be buried in so sweet a place," wrote Shelley, not long before he drowned and was buried here. (extracted from the presentation of the cemetery) So you see, Shelley's wish was accomplished ... and if he was happy to be buried there you should be too. It is a honor I think to be buried for eternity within the Eternal City and in such good company. Believe me, besides the mad shouting Romans, there are many highly cultivated people who are fully aware of the treasures this city holds... (personally, I don't have a thorough knowledge of English literature, but I do like to read English authors and poets ... to exercise the language, which is not my mother tongue) Blessed be all the Artists buried in this cemetery you evoked here! It's not near the Spanish Stairs, it's near the Cestia Pyramid, a funerary monument ... Anyway, I appreciated your attention and your work. love Margherita |
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Zyskandar A. Jaimot Member
since 2008-02-06
Posts 76FL-USA |
to m + aw + ms - much thanks for the read/comments ckose to SPANISH STEPS thanks refards zaj |
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