While the "Elegy" (and your reading of it) is beautiful, it's a shame that other poems by Gray are not nearly as well known. For example "The Descent of Odin", a poem about the Norse Allfather descending into the realm of Hela, the goddess of the dead, where he uses magic to force an undead oracle to tell him about things to come, i.e. Ragnarok (the end of days). This is a really entertaining poem and highly satisfying to read aloud. I think it is far more accessible to the contemporary reader than the "Elegy". There's a reading of the poem on my channel if you're interested.
the first four lines are still perfect...funny forty years have past...and they still move me...this is what immortality is like..and now my weary ears go back to Trump...
@horationelson57 I view it as more a failure in the education system. I was in the upper sets in both primary and secondary for English yet - beside some passing reference to Shakespeare writing in Iambic Pentameter with no justification or explanation - I didn't hear about metre until halfway through my first year of university. It's only from learning these rudiments that I've been inspired to learn more and try my hand metrically. It simply wasn't taught, I feel I've been robbed.
@paulmercy I say, post modern poets cant work with metre because they are almost universally dull, insipid and talentless drones. Candor is so good for the soul.
While the "Elegy" (and your reading of it) is beautiful, it's a shame that other poems by Gray are not nearly as well known.
For example "The Descent of Odin", a poem about the Norse Allfather descending into the realm of Hela, the goddess of the dead, where he uses magic to force an undead oracle to tell him about things to come, i.e. Ragnarok (the end of days). This is a really entertaining poem and highly satisfying to read aloud. I think it is far more accessible to the contemporary reader than the "Elegy".
There's a reading of the poem on my channel if you're interested.
I really like this poem so much. It's one of the most favourite verses to me in English language.
Simply beautiful
the first four lines are still perfect...funny forty years have past...and they still move me...this is what immortality is like..and now my weary ears go back to Trump...
an elegy ....very near to my heart
one of me favorite poems
WHAT AN ELEGY ............WISH IT WAS FOR ME WHEN I TOO AM NO MORE ...HE WAS GREAT AS POET N WRITER
@horationelson57 I view it as more a failure in the education system. I was in the upper sets in both primary and secondary for English yet - beside some passing reference to Shakespeare writing in Iambic Pentameter with no justification or explanation - I didn't hear about metre until halfway through my first year of university. It's only from learning these rudiments that I've been inspired to learn more and try my hand metrically. It simply wasn't taught, I feel I've been robbed.
Lovely!
@paulmercy I say, post modern poets cant work with metre because they are almost universally dull, insipid and talentless drones. Candor is so good for the soul.
heart touching....
Great
Nice