"A day in the life of an Old Poet";
by Darmok
"Over the course of the river Duddon
from its source, where Westmoreland,
Cumberland and Lancashire meet, to the sea"
There would my heart take me,
this journey over centuries,
to walk a single day with thee.
Observe the moments, hear your thoughts,
whence inspirations would avail,
and walk with you along this lengthening trail,
where mind and soul attempt to go.
Amongst the words worth wandering whole,
beyond the page where death doth toll,
perhaps a glimpse in verse will know,
the end... the course the river flows.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author notes
It is written of Wordsworth, his sonnet “After-Thought”, “was written at intervals between 1806 or 1807 and 1820 in which the poet follows the course of the river Duddon from its source, where Westmoreland, Cumberland and Lancashire meet, to the sea”. (ref. Old poetry 5189)
The old poets are marvelously rich in history, experience, and recollections of their youth, their lives and their tragedies….but most of all their love. Many struggled so hard for their love of poetry.
PS.
My god, such lavish, rich historical content attached to the poet's work; revelations of his life and reflections of his accomplishments. Makes one wonder if 'this' poet should be on the move, enrich his boundaries by opening them, for all his life spent in a nutshell, will his poems find only the worm. I should hope something lasting I do impart, if only for the smiles worn the day.
Having read the sonnet and the notes, I embellished on the notes: (see the quotations, original found in Oldpoetry.com note for this poem ref.)
Written November 23rd, 2004
A contest entry
- ANYTHING IN THE WORLD!!!! 1000 pts. by Rdy2begorgeous.
1000 points, ended February 21, 2008, 64 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give Me Your Best by xXbrokenXstarXx.
900 points, ends December 16, 16 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 43 of 43
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that journey where you have taken us when following those bards of old...
well done my friend
Keep penning on one stroke at a time!
Bill...
well done!
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Forgot to say that I am enchanted with the whole notion of this poem, the thought of walking with a poet from another age. What a fantasy. An alluring theme but it is the writig tha makes it great
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the muse of my life
Oh how I envy those of you who find their muse so willing, the telling is so beautiful when inspiration is but a thought and effortless stroke of ones enchanted moment of clarity. Synergetic harmonies of imagination and perceptions....the bending, yielding to the minds' eye. The beauty of finding the poetry in your voice...a thought, ....perhaps a dream....a telling of your heart and 'that knowing'....ahh...knowing, your voice will be heard.
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This will be read again and again. The last verse is one of those lyrical gems that one can't seem to get enough of
Well done, dear poet
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an enticing tribute to a wonderful Poet Wordsworth
you give him great worth with your words of wisdom
it is great!
Tamara
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ah thanks lady bug
wink! Darmok
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WOW. I am in love with this poem. How wonderfully beautiful. The flow is perfect. The wording lovely. I especially like the last stanza. A great ending to this poem.
Critical: In the last stanza, the second line should not have a period because you only have a true sentence if you keep the four lines as a whole sentence.
The best to you and yours. ~ Joyce
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flow
thanks Joyce for the superb comment.
Joel
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Masterpiece!
just came back to read again, so beautiful, i think it's one of the finest, of the many! took me again! thank you for such a beautiful read! Rena~ -
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Master Poets
Have you read Cinara; such a lovely lovely Poet! and Pastiche! ....ah...they thrill me.
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Very nice, Darmok!
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This is a really nice flowing piece. You took us on a quick journey & I really enjoyed it. Thank-you so much for the entry.
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I loved this. I actually felt lost in time....
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very nice
Wordsworth is one of my very favorite poets.this is a wonderful piece.thanks for sharing
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Awesome!
This is superior! Great! I loved it! The picture reminded me of EAPoe, my favorite, or Lord Byron?. -
i am simply captivated and at a loss for words for this one, takes me deeper far more than one can surmise, as always love your work terribly...much love dear, and blessings~
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I glad you enjoyed the poem, it was a fun write that just became....maybe with practice I could jog loose this kind of write more often. Darmok
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superb
this does sing to my heart for he is one of my favorites for certain...
I do like this and you chose an excellent talent to follow under in your selection of an idol.
Tamara
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I love reading classical poetry, you have done this one justice, Wordsworth is one of my favourites.
Well Done!
~Katie~
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A poet I have not read a lot
which is no doubt my loss , and your write gave me the urge to do so in the near future. Your words are a wonderful tribute to him (and wherever he may be , I am sure that he is pleased)for this honor you bestowed upon him ,
xo
Reenie
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A wonderfully penned write, Darmok. This poet is deserving of much praise and appreciation for his fine work...and you're very deserving with this eloquent reference to him and his poetry.
It's a beautiful poem
Good luck in the contest
Dee
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I wish I had 'control', that is a consistent aptitude for writing in this style. It occassionally appears in my writing, only because its inspired. It's perplexing; I feel inadequate after such a write, because I'm for loss at preparing the next. -D
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You have always been in your element in this period writing. You are so intelligent, indeed. This reminds me of once when I wrote a poem to Beethoven about the beauty of the music rising from a disc.
This is lovely.
Joyce -
It is so nice to come on to allpoetry and read such an intelligently written poem! I must say, I loved every line of this work of art. You are to be applauded!
~Destiny~ -
Wow. I like metaphors. A lot. You did a great job in this one. Youre a great writer. Keep up the good work.
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Exellent
Wonderful I am in the past, this page is a time machine.
I went in Wordsworth's house one as a youngster when on holiday in the Lake District. It is kept as a museum and is a wonderful place to vistit! -
You have got to love classical forms of poetry...unlike contemporary poetry, there is an eloquence and richness to it. This is not to say that contemporary and modern poetry is without its merit, but merely that classical pieces aid in the appreciation of its construction.
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he was a hell of a writer thats a fact. another one with an epic story is william blake, made his own printing press the equivalent 2day would be cpu chipsets i guess. was happy to read this
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Very very great poem. Very enjoyable read. Good work. But I must admit, I do enjoy todays poetry. But that' just my opinion. Wonderful picture too. Good work.
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you paint a great tribute to one of the oldies in Wadsworth
unique and different is the take on this one for myself...
an enjoyable read, although I do enjoy todays contemporary take
on poetry for myself.
Tamara
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I can see the smile on Wordsworth's face as he sees young poets using his works to learn and develop their style. This is a very delightful write and worthy of tremendous praise. Your willingness to undertake it is a star in your crown for it is a difficult task. Talk of "poetic justice"...you captured it!
~~~POO~~~
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This is a beautiful creation. This is a wonderful style and Wodsworth would be proud I am sure. Keep up the wonderful work.
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This is excellent! If I'm being honest, (and also being stupid and generalising), I very rarely enjoy "old" poems, but I loved this. You handled the launguage perfectly, and created a gorgeous piece.
Beautiful
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That is a marvelous poem Jaden, exquisit detail, I'm quite in awe of it.
-Darmok -
Keats Handwriting, by Billy Collins (US Poet Laureate)
In print, his poems look as inert as anyone’s,
reposing in the open coffin of an anthology,
the type faceless and duplicate,
every letter silent,
the work finished, done for the day.
But here on this thin sheet of manuscript
in the tiny industry of his penmanship
with its loops and flourishes,
leafy stems, broad crosses, and sudden dots,
you can feel the quick jitter of writing,
the animal scratching of the nib,
even the blood beating in the temples.
You can see the light that must have fallen on the page
from an orange candle or a stark winter sun.
Magnified, every minuscule is a photograph;
every indelible accident is a trace of random life,
a moment caught in a spot or fleck,
the thin pen dipped and lifted,
a droplet of ink trembling in the air of the present.
It is enough to make you inhale deeply,
breathe in the brine of the whole century
that held him in her rolling waves
and lapped against the sides of his poems.
And if you lean against the glass case,
bending forward, as he must have over his page,
you can almost see the white linen cuff,
the dark sleeve and the warm, ruddy hand
as if it were your own,
as if your body could fit into his body
the way the life of Shakespeare fits
perfectly into the life of Cervantes.
Then you could rise in the suit of Keats,
walk in his garden, lie on his couch,
the seat of English drowsiness.
And every time you closed your eyes,
you would enter a bower of eglantine
or a liquid glade alive with nymphs.
You would see in the inkwell’s black pool
a glossy lake, a musk rose blowing,
night-swollen mushrooms,
and the long, billowing hair of the Muses.
I think he would agree with you.
Jaden
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The course of the river deems more than one can comprehend, your words pose as complimentary that pursues readers to proceed in life with the words of a poet as thou has done likewise, glad to see you inspired, hope to read more of your great inspirations inscribed with words!
~Rena Scribe~ -
Hi, thank you all for your encouragement, words I take to heart. I am not writing much at all, and were it not for inspirations like the words on "After-thought" to kick start the gray matter, it would be forever and day before my next poem. Thanks again for the read my friends.....you're kind comments are a great encouragement too -D
-Darmok, his arm open
Edited on Nov 25, 12:47 because ''. -
You have a lot of patience to even attempt to write old English. I have never even tried, awesome write Darmok.
Red -
I've edited my comments a tad, to make it clear was I (this poet) for whom I remarked, expressing my cupped life found in a vessel partially filled. In comparison to these Poets who fill not one or two, but possess an overflow of experience that richly embodies their work.
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This brought me much pleasure and delight this morning Just to read aloud a poem of old such as this , somehow transports us into a world that unfortunately is disappearing more and more ( by the constant changes in the language) and now "chat slang" being used by many of the new generations . Words such as these will never be penned again , and how fortunate we are to be able to go back and retreat into the world of any of those poets of old ,
Dosthonor like?Acquire the same
As some to their immortal fame
And trophies to thy name erect
Which wearing time shall ne'er deject
Anne Bradstreet (1612?-1672)
Your author's notes asks some questions in regards to Wordsworth , which I think could be asked about so many of the poets of centuries past. But had they moved into different directions or changed merely one single thing about their way of life .......maybe such inspiration for them to pen and us to enjoy would never have come forth ???? I always wonder this about Emily Dickenson who spoke of love , but compared it to a gun ( seems rather morbid ) but if analysed is that feeling not much stronger than the mere word LOVE....it can indeed carry the power of a gun ) a feeling of security or a blast to the heart, depending on what the endresult of that feeling is , oui? Anyway, outstanding piece you wrote here. BRAVO!!!!!
Reenie
Edited on Nov 24, 4:38 because ''. -
I must thanks Andrew for sending us OP staff the link to this delightful poem. This was an extremely enjoyable read
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Wonderfully done Darmok - you aren't related to Wordsworth are you?
Not only is this an absolute delight to read it's wonderful to see our old Masters as Mentors for the modern poet.
I agree with Andrew- Wordsworth would like this.
~Von~ -
An excellent piece Darmok, Wordsworth himself would have probably loved this.
It's good to see the classics still being appreaciated today and this serves as a wonderful reminder of a true word smith.
Beautiful work
Andrew
As Wordsworth said...
For, backward, Duddon! as I cast my eyes,
I see what was, and is, and will abide;
Still glides the stream, and shall for ever glide;
The form remains, the function never dies;
(from 'After-thought by William Wordsworth.)
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