It's not a poem, it's a excerpt. Who nominates these?

Penelope wrote:It's not a poem, it's a excerpt. Who nominates these?

Not me . How would you feel about being the first on your block to read "Tichbornes's Elegy'? (Or maybe this is a more famous poem in England than I realize.) I think it's better than the title may make it sound, but surely also it is the story behind the poem that made this famous, not the skill shown by the poet. Harmon tells us that Tichborne was involved in the Babington plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. He "was hanged and quartered on September 30, 1586. He was in the spring of life and he died just before the autumnal equinox--as is reflected in the 'prime' and 'frost' of the opening of his elegy, supposedly written on the eve of his execution, Hilary Holladay has noted that the poem contains 18 lines, one for each year of the poet's life. Of the 180 words in the poem, 179 are outright monosyllables, and even the lone exception ('fallen') is sounded and counted as a monosyllable ('fall'n')."

220. "Tichborne's Elegy," by Chidiock Tichborne

Written with his own hand in the tower
before his execution

My prime of youth is but a frost of cares,
My feast of joy is but a dish of pain,
My crop of corn is but a field of tares,
And all my good is but vain hope of gain;
The day is past, and yet I saw no sun,
And now I live, and now my life is done.

My tale was heard and yet it was not told,
My fruit is fallen and yet my leaves are green,
My youth is spent and yet I am not old,
I saw the world and yet I was not seen;
My thread is cut and yet it is not spun,
And now I live, and now my life is done.

I sought my death and found it in my womb,
I looked for life and saw it was a shade,
I trod the earth and knew it was my tomb,
And now I die, and now I was but made:
My glass is full, and now my glass is run,
And now I live, and now my life is done.

Thank you DWill - it's beautiful isn't it? But harrowing knowing its background.

I am very interested in this period of our 'bloody' history of England. I have researched and read quite a lot about Christopher Marlowe, another brave and beautiful, boy whose courage brought him to destruction.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to ding it - it seems a bit insensitive to do so.

It verily brought a tear to my eye.

The feeling and mood hit their marks. It's devastating to read, very sad. But poetically speaking, I'd give it one sole ding.

DWill wrote: but here is no 223, which is:"l'Allegro

I am finally back to #223. 4 dings for me and half the time I'm not even sure exactly what is being said. I love the sounds. I've been listening to the poem read on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gw8YdFgEd0

Basks at the fire his hairy strength;

Now here is an image!

220. "Tichborne's Elegy," by Chidiock Tichborne

A ding and 1/2

219. "To Mistress Margaret Hussey," by John Skelton (1460-1529). This poet goes back to the very beginning of the English lyric tradition. His style, judged as "rough," has spawned the adjective Skeltonic. It seems spontaneous and improvised. I'm not sure I understand the gentleness of the falcon and the hawk in this poem. 1 ding for me.

MERRY Margaret
As midsummer flower,
Gentle as falcon
Or hawk of the tower:
With solace and gladness, 5
Much mirth and no madness,
All good and no badness;
So joyously,
So maidenly,
So womanly 10
Her demeaning
In every thing,
Far, far passing
That I can indite,
Or suffice to write 15
Of Merry Margaret
As midsummer flower,
Gentle as falcon
Or hawk of the tower.
As patient and still 20
And as full of good will
As fair Isaphill,
Coliander,
Sweet pomander,
Good Cassander; 25
Steadfast of thought,
Well made, well wrought,
Far may be sought,
Ere that ye can find
So courteous, so kind 30
As merry Margaret,
This midsummer flower,
Gentle as falcon
Or hawk of the tower.

GLOSS: Isaphill] Hypsipyle. coliander] coriander seed, an aromatic. pomander] a ball of perfume. Cassander] Cassandra.

DWill wrote:219. "To Mistress Margaret Hussey," by John Skelton (1460-1529). This poet goes back to the very beginning of the English lyric tradition. His style, judged as "rough," has spawned the adjective Skeltonic. It seems spontaneous and improvised. I'm not sure I understand the gentleness of the falcon and the hawk in this poem. 1 ding for me.


Gentle as falcon

Hey, I found this:
World English Dictionary
falcon-gentle or falcon-gentil

— n
falconry a female falcon, esp a female peregrine falcon

[C14: from Old French faucon-gentil literally: noble falcon]

falcon-gentil or falcon-gentil

What do you think? Help explain the line?

Gentille - like Allouette!

When I was in France last, I can't remember why but an elderley chap said to me, 'Vous etes tres gentille, madam'. Meaning that I was very 'kind'.

Now falcons aren't kind, I should know, I have plenty to sleep over at my house, and hawks are not kind. Well, they aren't kind to little mice and creeping things at any rate. Single minded, yes, perfectly adapted to kill, yes. Kind, no.

They are very quiet flyers, you can't hear them much, but not as silent as an owl. I am intrigued and will investigate further as to how the falcon got its name.

Unless, the the poem is paying an underhanded complement, I think we are missing something......(Musing...they are very beautiful and captivating birds).

Three dings from me....I liked it.

Thanks Saffron:

I found what you found: falcon-gentil - female peregrin falcon.

gentil - French - meaning noble.

From whence we get the word - gentleman. Lovely!!!