GenghisTheHun 04/28/2007
He had some bad poetry, but which poet doesn't? Most is sublime. He is probably my favorite. I am fond of the sonnets, and I give you here one of his haunting Epitaphs from Chiabrera. (This, however, is not a sonnet.) (Remember the last line and treasure it as you age.) This one is VI. "DESTINED to war from very infancy Was I, Roberto Dati, and I took In Malta the white symbol of the Cross: Nor in life's vigorous season did I shun Hazard or toil; among the sands was seen Of Libya; and not seldom, on the banks Of wide Hungarian Danube, 'twas my lot To hear the sanguinary trumpet sounded. So lived I, and repined not at such fate: This only grieves me, for it seems a wrong, That stripped of arms I to my end am brought On the soft down of my paternal home. Yet haply Arno shall be spared all cause To blush for me. Thou, loiter not nor halt In thy appointed way, and bear in mind How fleeting and how frail is human life!"
Helpful
Funny
Agree
Disagree
irishgit 02/06/2007
At his best, extraordinary. At his worst, drivel.
finlore 03/10/2002
I would have to rate William Wordsworth highly even if he'd written nothing other than the lines "And then my heart with pleasure fills, / And dances with the daffodils." Although I don't know his poetry well, other than the poem previously mentioned, a number of his poems have given me food for thought. Surely that's at least a part of a poet's mission?
3 reviews! « Previous | Page of 1 | Next »
Sort by Newest Oldest Most helpful Least helpful Highest rated Lowest rated