"Among the Rocks" by Robert Browning

 

Among the Rocks

Oh, good gigantic smile o’ the brown old earth,

This autumn morning! How he sets his bones

To bask i’ the sun, and thrusts out knees and feet

For the ripple to run over in its mirth;

Listening the while, where on the heap of stones

The white breast of the sea-lark twitters sweet.

 

That is the doctrine, simple, ancient, true;

Such is life’s trial, as old earth smiles and knows.

If you loved only what were worth your love,

Love were clear gain, and wholly well for you:

Make the low nature better by your throes!

Give earth yourself, go up for gain above!

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

https://youtu.be/6AsHxg-1w6A

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Who wrote poem "Among the Rocks"?

Robert Browning (May 7, 1812 – December 12, 1889)

Robert Browning, often situated in the company of the great Victorian poets, was notably proficient in dramatic monologues, a form he mastered and popularized. He married fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Browning's work "The Ring and the Book," inspired by a 17th-century Roman murder trial, became a significant success, solidifying his reputation after years of mixed reviews. Interestingly, Browning and Charles Dickens were friends, and Dickens even wrote a character based on him in "Our Mutual Friend." Despite his literary success, Browning also had a passion for music and was an accomplished pianist, often composing tunes for his own poems.

"Among the Rocks" explanation

"Among the Rocks" intertwines vibrant natural imagery with deep philosophical insights, a hallmark of Robert Browning's work. The earth, personified joyfully basking in the sun, symbolizes life and growth amidst the serene scene of a twittering sea-lark. Browning’s philosophical doctrine in the second stanza reflects on life's trials and the pursuit of worthy love. He advocates elevating base nature through struggle and self-giving to the earth. The poem subtly intertwines the physical and spiritual, encouraging readers to seek higher, intangible gains.

Sonnet 73 (That time of year thou mayst in me behold) by William shakespeare

 

Sonnet 73 (That time of year thou mayst in me behold)

That time of year thou mayst in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,

Bare ruin’d choirs where late the sweet birds sang.

In me thou seest the twilight of such day

As after sunset fadeth in the west,

Which by and by black night doth take away,

Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.

In me thou seest the glowing of such fire

That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,

As the death-bed whereon it must expire,

Consum’d by that which it was nourished by.

This thou perceiv’st which makes thy love more strong,

To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

 

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

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Who wrote the poem "A Madrigal"?

William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616)

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor of the Renaissance era. He is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon." Few public records remain about his private life, causing speculations about his physical appearances, sexuality, religious beliefs and the authorship of some of his works. His works demonstrate a wide range of human emotions and conflicts, touching so many people's minds throughout the world for over 400 years.

"Sonnet 73" explanation

"Sonnet 73" by William Shakespeare poignantly explores the themes of aging and mortality through metaphors of autumn, sunset, and dying embers, symbolizing the poet's own existential reflections. The vivid imagery conveys a serene yet melancholic acceptance of life's transience and the impending inevitability of death. Despite the somber metaphors, the concluding lines reveal a message that the awareness of life's ephemerality can deepen love and appreciation for existing relationships. This sonnet, while exploring the universal themes of time and decay, ultimately underscores a profound message of love and mutual appreciation amidst the transient nature of life. Shakespeare's exploration of these themes has rendered "Sonnet 73" timeless, resonating with and deeply moving readers across generations.

"The Land God Forgot" by Robert Service

 

The Land God Forgot

The lonely sunsets flare forlorn

Down valleys dreadly desolate;

The lordly mountains soar in scorn

As still as death, as stern as fate.

 

The lonely sunsets flame and die;

The giant valleys gulp the night;

The monster mountains scrape the sky,

Where eager stars are diamond-bright.

 

So gaunt against the gibbous moon,

Piercing the silence velvet-piled,

A lone wolf howls his ancient rune-

The fell arch-spirit of the Wild.

 

O outcast land! O leper land!

Let the lone wolf-cry all express

The hate insensate of thy hand,

Thy heart's abysmal loneliness.

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poem video👇

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Who wrote the poem "The Land God Forgot" ?

Robert W. Service (January 16, 1874 – September 11, 1958)

Robert W. Service, often dubbed the "Bard of the Yukon," was a British-Canadian poet and writer. He achieved immense popularity for his vivid portrayals of the Canadian North and its rugged inhabitants. While he spent several years in the Yukon during the Gold Rush era, many of his tales were based on stories he heard rather than personal experiences. Beyond his Yukon ballads, Service also wrote about World War I, drawing from his time as a wartime correspondent. His style, characterized by rhythmic verses and compelling narratives, made him one of the best-selling poets of his time.

"The Land God Forgot"  explanation

The poem captures the stark, desolate beauty of a remote landscape. Service uses powerful imagery to depict nature's grandeur and indifference. The sunsets, mountains, and valleys symbolize the vastness and isolation of the land. The lone wolf's howl emphasizes the wilderness's raw, untamed spirit. The terms "outcast" and "leper" suggest a land rejected, yet possessing a haunting allure. The poem conveys both the majesty and melancholy of the untouched wild or perhaps the poet’s loneliness and pain. The poem's tone reflects the Romantic tradition of finding profound beauty in desolation and solitude.

"Sonnet XVII. Happy Is England" by John Keats

 

Sonnet XVII. Happy Is England

Happy is England! I could be content

To see no other verdure than its own;

To feel no other breezes than are blown

Through its tall woods with high romances blent:

Yet do I sometimes feel a languishment

For skies Italian, and an inward groan

To sit upon an Alp as on a throne,

And half forget what world or worldling meant.

Happy is England, sweet her artless daughters;

Enough their simple loveliness for me,

Enough their whitest arms in silence clinging:

Yet do I often warmly burn to see

Beauties of deeper glance, and hear their singing,

And float with them about the summer waters. 

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

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who wrote the poem "Happy Is England"?

John Keats (October 31, 1795 – February 23, 1821)

 

John Keats was one of the leading figures of the second generation of Romantic poets, alongside Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. John Keats was not born into wealth. After the death of his parents, he was left with a guardian who mismanaged his inheritance. He initially pursued a career in medicine but abandoned it to focus on poetry, not a lucrative career. He endured personal tragedies with the early deaths of his parents, the loss of his brother to tuberculosis, and his own battle with the disease, compounded by a tumultuous relationship with Fanny Brawne. These challenges deeply influenced his poetic themes of mortality, love, and transience. Keats' career was brief, spanning only six years. However, his poetic style, characterized by sensual imagery and emotional intensity, has inspired countless writers and poets throughout history.

"Happy Is England" explanation

 

The speaker expresses his love for England and its natural beauty. He admires England's woods, breezes, and artless daughters. However, he also yearns for the allure of Italy and its deeper beauties. The Alp represents a desire for elevation and escape from worldly concerns. The poem captures the tension between contentment and wanderlust. Keats' yearning for Italy became a reality when he traveled there, though his health deteriorated during his stay.

"Summer Holiday" by Robinson Jeffers

 

Summer Holiday 

When the sun shouts and people abound

One thinks there were the ages of stone and the age of

bronze

And the iron age; iron the unstable metal;

Steel made of iron, unstable as his mother; the tow-

ered-up cities

Will be stains of rust on mounds of plaster.

Roots will not pierce the heaps for a time, kind rains

will cure them,

Then nothing will remain of the iron age

And all these people but a thigh-bone or so, a poem

Stuck in the world's thought, splinters of glass

In the rubbish dumps, a concrete dam far off in the

mountain...

 

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poem video👇

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Who wrote the poem "Summer Holiday"?

Robinson Jeffers (January 10, 1887 – January 20, 1962)

Robinson Jeffers was an American poet, best known for his works that emphasize the beauty and power of nature, often set against the California coastline. Jeffers introduced a philosophy called "inhumanism," which prioritizes the magnificence of the natural world over human concerns. His literary legacy is marked by his distinctive pantheistic vision and deep ecological perspective, which have made him a foundational figure in environmental literature. 

"Summer Holiday" explanation

"Summer Holiday" by Robinson Jeffers explores the transient nature of human civilization and its ultimate return to nature. The poem contrasts the bustling activity of the present, symbolized by the sun's shout and the crowds, with the inevitable decay of human-made structures. The speaker references the ages of stone, bronze, and iron, highlighting the impermanence of even the most durable materials. The imagery of rusted cities and mounds of plaster underscores the idea that nature will eventually reclaim what humans have built. The poem concludes with a somber reflection on humanity's fleeting legacy: a few remnants, a poem, and distant memories in the vast timeline of the world.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox's 'Solitude': A Masterpiece Unveiled!

 "Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

 

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air;

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

 

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all,—

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life’s gall.

 

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

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Who wrote the poem "Solitude"?

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (November 5, 1850 – October 30, 1919)

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. She began writing poetry at a very young age, and by the time she was a teenager, her work was being published in the New York Mercury. Her most famous collection, "Poems of Passion," was published in 1883 and included the well-known poem "Solitude." Throughout her career, Wilcox was known for her sentimental and moralistic verses, which often explored themes of love, passion, and human emotion. 

 'Solitude' explanation

"Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox explores human nature and the paradox of social interaction. The poem suggests that people are drawn towards happiness and joy, and tend to avoid or abandon those who are in sorrow or pain. It emphasizes the inherent solitude that accompanies suffering, as people must often face their troubles alone. Wilcox's poem reveals the dichotomy between shared joys and solitary sorrows in the human condition. The poem was reportedly written in response to an encounter Wilcox had with a grieving widow during a train ride. The widow's profound loneliness and despair inspired Wilcox to pen "Solitude."

"When I Was One-and-Twenty" by A. E. Housman

 

When I Was One-and-Twenty

When I was one-and-twenty

I heard a wise man say,

“Give crowns and pounds and guineas

But not your heart away;

Give pearls away and rubies

But keep your fancy free.”

But I was one-and-twenty,

No use to talk to me.

 

When I was one-and-twenty

I heard him say again,

“The heart out of the bosom

Was never given in vain;

’Tis paid with sighs a plenty

And sold for endless rue.”

And I am two-and-twenty,

And oh, ’tis true, ’tis true.

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/-PedE_VX6Lk

Who wrote the poem "When I Was One-and-Twenty"?

Alfred Edward Housman (March 26, 1859 - April 30, 1936)

 

Alfred Edward Housman, better known as A.E. Housman, was a renowned English classical scholar and poet. Despite his significant contributions to poetry, Housman actually spent most of his career as a Latin professor. His most famous work, "A Shropshire Lad," was initially self-published after several publishers rejected it, but it later gained popularity for its exploration of themes like youth, love, and mortality. Housman was known for his meticulousness and precision, often spending years perfecting individual poems.

"When I Was One-and-Twenty" explanation

"When I Was One-and-Twenty" by A.E. Housman is a cautionary tale about the folly of youthful love. The speaker, now 22, reflects on the advice he ignored a year earlier about not giving his heart away, only to realize its truth after experiencing heartbreak. This poem is part of Housman's collection "A Shropshire Lad," published in 1896, which explores themes of youth, love, and mortality, often set against the backdrop of the English countryside. The collection was not initially successful but gained popularity during the Boer War and World War I due to its exploration of young men's experiences.

"A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky" by Lewis Carroll

 

A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky

A boat beneath a sunny sky,

Lingering onward dreamily

In an evening of July —

 

Children three that nestle near,

Eager eye and willing ear,

Pleased a simple tale to hear —

 

Long has paled that sunny sky:

Echoes fade and memories die:

Autumn frosts have slain July.

 

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,

Alice moving under skies

Never seen by waking eyes.

 

Children yet, the tale to hear,

Eager eye and willing ear,

Lovingly shall nestle near.

 

In a Wonderland they lie,

Dreaming as the days go by,

Dreaming as the summers die:

 

Ever drifting down the stream —

Lingering in the golden gleam —

Life, what is it but a dream?

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video 👇

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Who wrote the poem ""A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky"?

Lewis Carroll (January 27, 1832 – January 14, 1898)

Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was born in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. He was a mathematician, logician, and Anglican deacon, but is best known for his work as a writer, particularly for his children's books. Carroll's most famous works are "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel "Through the Looking-Glass," which have become classics of English literature. These works are renowned for their imaginative content, word play, and the mathematical and logical puzzles woven into the narrative. In addition to his prose, Carroll also penned numerous poems, including the well-known "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky," which showcase his unique blend of whimsy, wit, and linguistic inventiveness. Carroll’s works continue to be widely read to this day and have influenced a broad range of literature and popular culture.

"A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky" explanation

"A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky" is a poignant poem by Lewis Carroll that is often seen as a reflection on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of childhood. It is also an acrostic poem, with the first letter of each line spelling out the name "Alice Pleasance Liddell," the real-life inspiration for Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

"A Dirge" by Christina Rossetti

 

A Dirge

Why were you born when the snow was falling?

You should have come to the cuckoo’s calling,

Or when grapes are green in the cluster,

Or, at least, when lithe swallows muster

For their far off flying

From summer dying.

 

Why did you die when the lambs were cropping?

You should have died at the apples’ dropping,

When the grasshopper comes to trouble,

And the wheat-fields are sodden stubble,

And all winds go sighing

For sweet things dying. 

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

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Who wrote the poem "Sonnets are full of love"?

Christina Rossetti (December 5, 1830 ~ December 29, 1894)

Christina Rossetti was an English poet who was lauded as one of the foremost female poets of the 19th-century Victorian era. She wrote romantic, devotional, and children's poems, marked by symbolism and intense feeling. Her literary status was often compared to that of Elizabeth Barren Browning, and upon Browning's death in 1861, Rossetti was hailed as Browning's rightful successor. She opposed slavery, cruelty to animals, and the exploitation of girls in under-age prostitution. Rossetti suffered from Graves' disease in the later decades of her life. In 1893, she was diagnosed of breast cancer and died of a recurrence in 1894.

"A Dirge" explanation

"A Dirge" by Christina Rossetti is a keen reflection on the timing of life and death, using the changing seasons as a metaphor. The speaker questions why the subject was born in winter, a time associated with coldness and death, rather than during the vibrant life of spring or summer. Similarly, the speaker laments the subject's death during spring, a time of birth and renewal, rather than in autumn or winter when nature itself is dying or dormant. This juxtaposition of life and death against the natural cycle of the seasons underscores the sense of loss and the harsh unpredictability of life.