"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom friend of the maturing sun."
Yet Keats ne'er knew the joys of cars and bootfulness;
Just horse and cart, to take him for a run.
When winter came, no cosy down-filled quilts,
No television, Kindle, mobile phone.
No holidays in trembling huts on stilts,
No social networks, when he felt alone.
Only the mists and fruitfulness remain,
And very soon - who knows? - they may be gone.
For global warming means nothing's the same;
Yet still, we humans seem to struggle on.
And yet I know that at this moment, I
Could do with Keats, to help with this Magpie...
(With thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales for the picture.)
Keats,alas is dead and gone,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say you're all alone.
And I'm embarrassed.
I always enjoy these Magpies.
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DeleteInteresting reply, Adrian, I think...
DeleteI don't think you need Keats; you handled it beautifully all by yourself. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're very kind, Berowne. But everyone needs Keats (one of my favourite poets)!
DeleteVery nice. We do seem to struggle on throughout changes good or bad.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donetta
DeleteAn almost perfect sonnet thou hast wrought,
ReplyDeleteSave one line of hexameter, not pent.
The line ‘tis but the third one, so thou ought
Not fret thyself about John Keats, a gent
Who spoke to us of beauty and of truth,
Of Grecian urns and, yes, St. Agnes Eve.
For he is dead and you’re alive, forsooth,
And who’s to say whose words we should believe?
If Samuel Coleridge should leave Xanadu
And gaze upon this humble British home,
He might bid Kubla Khan fond toodle-oo
And choose instead this modern pleasure dome.
Just know, lest one disparage or despise,
That beauty rests in the beholder’s eyes.
Excellent! But I think we're quits, as your ninth line has thirteen syllables!
ReplyDeleteNot if you pronounce his name the way Americans do: Sam-yul Cohl-ridge
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DeleteAh, but Coleridge is English!
DeleteHexameter, pentameter. Pedantic. I don't care. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI love it too. Who said I didn't love it? I also paid attention in English class.
DeleteThanks, Maggie!
DeleteAutumn is such a perfect time for reminiscing and the classics as well as anticipation--your poem caught the contrasting moods very well.
ReplyDeleteKeats is also one of my favourite poets. Mind you I do tend to admire anyone who can think up poetry.
ReplyDeleteYes. Keats is wonderful, isn't he. How are you on Tennison?
DeleteI mean Tennyson. Oops.
DeleteClever. Now I'm off to find my poetry book of Keats :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Margaret. Do. He's worth revisiting!
DeleteTennyson, Keats, they are good, but yours is as it should be- originally you!
ReplyDeleteWell done, as always. Love the sonnet, as is.
ReplyDelete=)
Thanks, Susan. How kind!
DeleteI enjoyed reading your work..enjoyed hearing your voice.
ReplyDelete