A very odd fate befell Jeremy Bentham,
the founder of Britain's University College.
Skirting British propriety's edge,
He enjoyed life's vagaries as it lent 'em.
He proposed that one embalm one's own body,
and metamorphose into one's own statue.
Bentham had a quite strange world view;
his ideas appeared often risque or naughty.
Yet his fate would've likely surprised him.
Though he'd not bequeathed his mortal remains,
a wax effigy, made with the greatest of pains,
kept college meetings from turning too grim.
Perched on a chair, in appearance emoting,
they acknowledged him "present, not voting."
Author notes
Yes, this is a fact-based poem, i.e., it's a true story.
What did you think?
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
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In the end Bentham appears to have become somewhat sentimental about himself. You would think a famous Utilitarian would have wanted his remains ground up and tilled into the soil as silage! Ah, well, he was an influential character during and well beyond his time. That he should also remind us to not take ourselves too seriously is a fine legacy as well.
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Interesting, indeed.
I had to go out and read a little bit about J.B. and, of course, do a Google image search to see his auto-icon.
Next I wanted to read what Wikipedia had to say about the Petrarchan Sonnet. One sentence struck me there: "Poets adopting the Petrarchan sonnet form take liberties with it in that they do not necessarily restrict themselves to the strict metrical or rhyme schemes of the traditional Petrarchan form;"
It looks like you've taken full advantage of that liberty, and perhaps that's why one of the previous commenters even suggested it sounded like free verse. It's not a melifluous poem, so it's principal quality , I think, is in it's historical context.
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Yes.
Believe it or not, this was the very first Petrarchean sonnet I ever wrote. It's in my book, on page one, actually. I had just never posted it on AP. Unfortunately, I picked a contest hosted by a kid who doesn't know much about sonnets at all, and evidently even less about history.
C'est la vie. I didn't expect to win any trophies with this one anyway, so it's no big deal.
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lol Sounds a bit 'weekend at Bernies' to me lol I do hope they didn't pour the wax over him because that image is just too bizarre for words lol
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Don't know how they did it ...
but friends who have been there tell me that it's really spooky the first time you see him looking at you.
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very nice a/b/b/a rhyme scheme. interesting tidbit about jolly old England.Is this a sonnet form or some other type? Great read. Had no idea that this fellow even existed and I lived in England for 3 years!
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It's a Petrarchean sonnet ...
and probably that's why the contest holder doesn't get it. He appears to be very young. I should have entered this in the other "form" contest that was open, but then most of them only award trophies to their friends anyway.
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Ha!
He is actually embalmmed, isn;t he? It's not just a waxwork. I remember getting a bit of a jolt as I went through the door to the odd lecture there, seeing this box, and him in it.
I hope your poem encourages some readers to read this great philosopher; God knows a sprinkling of rational star-dust is long overdue.
Excellent, not for 'poetic' reasons, but for the originality of the idea.
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I hope you're not saying that it's a total loss ...
poetically?
Actually, so few here read even the poems others are posting that I can't see much likelihood that many will hasten to read the writings of Mr. Bentham. It's mostly just "me, me, me, me, me, me, me" here anymore. -
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Who is a bit pessimistic then?
No, it is worth it for the first four lines alone. I judge people as truly creative or original, when they do stuff - in any area of life, certainly the arts-- which I think I would never have thought of in a thousend years, and if in this case, that has to do with the subject more than the form, well, I still think it.
AP may not be the best place to prosyletise on behalf of Reason, or Philosophy or such. But I don't see any chance of our schools here in UK even dreaming of taking on the task (unlike France) although anyone has the right to preach utter mumbo jumbo, funded by the State.
I only joined AP in Spring; I see what you mean, but perhaps you are looking back to happier days? My policy is to have a small number of friends/favs, but to try to read and comment on everything they write. Obviously, it gets a bit tricky, when one goes away, but that's the aim. I do see some people with enormous numbers of friends, and like you, cannot understand, how they are able to keep it a two-waay business. But one must fight the good fight!
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Yes ...
it is difficult to keep up with everything posted by all the people on my favorites lists. In essence, I cannot. I have too many of them. The problem is that every time I turn around, someone else is adding me as a favorite after reading one of my poems. It then seems rather rude not to do the same with them. Thus, the list keeps growing.
In addition, I am ill most of the time, so don't really feel up to reading a lot anyway. That makes it more difficult. I do try to get to most of them every once in a while, but I don't really attempt to keep up with all of them. It doesn't seem to me to be workable.
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Thought I commented on this, bro. Read it yesterday at work. It's probably still on my screen there! I think I had a crack to two but can't remember it now. LOL Thanks for the history lesson.
Interesting. Amusing.
Dez
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Probably cause I dont like history very much, I dont really get why this would be good. The sentences made a little sense but I dont think im seeing the whole picture.
Sorry, I'm sure this is great but I just dont understand how it is. Also I think this is more of a story than a form or even freeverse. -
This is the second poem I have read about Bentham and his odd quest for immortality. hmmmm. I enjoyed this, JD, and your great penchant for well done rhyme is wonderful, too. I still don't think I would want to roam those hallowed halls at night.
Karen
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The second?
How odd. I never thought of anyone else being interested enough to write about him.
Nice to hear from you. Seems like it's been a long time. I hope all is well in your world.
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I had read about this eccentric character with bemusement. I think I shall maintain my desire to be cremated. Good luck in the contest, Scribe. Very impressive, and in rhyme, no less.
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Very interesting historical poem. Men of renown do have their quirks as do some of the lesser known geniuses. And now just for you, on a lighter note...
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