"A Madrigal" by William Shakespeare

 

A Madrigal 

Crabbed Age and Youth

Cannot live together:

Youth is full of pleasance,

Age is full of care;

Youth like summer morn,

Age like winter weather;

Youth like summer brave,

Age like winter bare:

Youth is full of sports,

Age's breath is short,

Youth is nimble, Age is lame:

Youth is hot and bold,

Age is weak and cold,

Youth is wild, and Age is tame:-

Age, I do abhor thee;

Youth, I do adore thee;

O! my Love, my Love is young!

Age, I do defy thee-

O sweet shepherd, hie thee,

For methinks thou stay'st too long.

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/bBx_kcik2pU

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.

"A Madrigal" explanation

In the poem, the speaker compares youth with age and expresses her love for the former and hatred for the latter. ‘Madrigal’ in the title means a short poem, meant to be sung without any instrumental accompaniment, which was popular in the Renaissance age.

"In the bleak midwinter" by Christina Rossetti

 In the bleak midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

 

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

 

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

 

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

 

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/_5NNEPhE-Sc

Who wrote the poem "In the bleak midwinter"?

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.

"In the bleak midwinter" explanation

In the poem, the speaker describes the midwinter night of the Christ’s birth. There were many who came to see his birth, including his mother who worshipped him with a kiss. The speaker, being poor, wonders what she could give to the Christ and realizes she could always give her heart. The poem was originally published under the title “A Christmas Carol,” and later became one of the most popular English Christmas carols.

"A Dream for Winter" by Arthur Rimbaud

 

A Dream for Winter

In winter we’ll travel in a little pink carriage

With cushions of blue.

We’ll be fine. A nest of mad kisses waits

In each corner too.

 

You’ll shut your eyes, not to see, through the glass,

Grimacing shadows of evening,

Those snarling monsters, a crowd going past

Of black wolves and black demons.

 

Then you’ll feel your cheek tickled quite hard…

A little kiss, like a maddened spider,

Will run over your neck…

 

And you’ll say: “Catch it!” bowing your head,

– And we’ll take our time finding that creature

– Who travels so far…

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇 

https://youtu.be/sT719E_Wykk

Who wrote the poem "A Dream for Winter"?

Arthur Rimbaud (October 20, 1854 – November 10, 1891)

 

Arthur Rimbaud was a French poet known for his influence on symbolism and surrealism. He began to write poems in primary school, was most productive in his late teens, and completely stopped writing at the age of 20. Rimbaud had a reckless and dissolute lifestyle. He was in a turbulent romantic relationship with the French poet, Paul Verlaine. He died from cancer at the age of 37.

"A Dream for Winter" explanation

In the poem, the speaker describes his journey with his beloved in a small pink railway carriage. He contrasts the softness and comfort of the inside to the coldness and horror of the outside, full of monsters, devils, and wolves. In this romantic world of theirs, they kiss each other and are distracted from the harsh outside world.

"Full of Life, Now" by Walt Whitman

 

Full of Life, Now

FULL of life, now, compact, visible,

I, forty years old the Eighty-third Year of The States,

To one a century hence, or any number of centuries hence,

To you, yet unborn, these, seeking you.

 

When you read these, I, that was visible, am become invisible;

Now it is you, compact, visible, realizing my poems, seeking me;

Fancying how happy you were, if I could be with you, and become your comrade;

Be it as if I were with you. (Be not too certain but I am now with you.)

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/RpjSMN2BWcc

Who wrote the poem "Full of Life, Now"?

Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892)

Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. Whitman is one of the most important American poets, often called the father of free verse. His major poetry collection, Leaves of Grass, was first published in 1855 at his own expense and became popular and controversial due to its overt sensuality. Whitman greatly admired Abraham Lincoln, and on Lincoln’s death, he wrote famous poems, “O Captain! My Captain!” and “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d.” Modernist poet Ezra Pound called Whitman “America’s poet… He is America.”

"Full of Life, Now" explanation

The speaker in the poem speaks directly to his unknown reader of the future. The poet is perhaps seeking immortality through his art like those great artists living forever in their masterpieces.

"A Poet to His Beloved" by William Butler Yeats

 

A Poet to His Beloved

I BRING you with reverent hands

The books of my numberless dreams,

White woman that passion has worn

As the tide wears the dove-grey sands,

And with heart more old than the horn

That is brimmed from the pale fire of time:

White woman with numberless dreams,

I bring you my passionate rhyme.

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/NoallOiQmK8

Who wrote the poem "A Poet to His Beloved"?

William Butler Yeats (June 13, 1865 – January 28, 1939)

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet, playwright, prose writer, and is widely considered as one of the greatest poets of the 20^th century. He was born to the Protestant, Anglo-Irish community that considered themselves English people born in Ireland and had largely controlled the economic, political, and social life of Ireland. However, Yeats strongly affirmed his Irish nationality and found inspiration in Irish legends and the occult in his early career. Later his poetry became more physical and realistic. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. 

"A Poet to His Beloved" explanation

In the poem, the speaker expresses his deep love and respect for his beloved. This poem is believed to have been inspired by and dedicated to Maud Gonne, the subject of the poet’s lifelong unrequited love.

"Tears Fall In My Heart" by Paul Verlaine

 

Tears Fall In My Heart

Tears fall in my heart

Rain falls on the town;

what is this numb hurt

that enters my heart?

 

Ah,the soft sound of rain

on roofs, on the ground!

To a dulled heart they came,

ah, the song of the rain!

 

Tears without reason

in the disheartened heart.

What? no trace of treason?

This grief's without reason.

 

It's far the worst pain

to never know why

without love or disdain

my heart has such pain! 

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/XzeSmKwNiLg

Who wrote the poem "Tears Fall In My Heart"?

Paul Verlaine (March 30, 1844 – January 8, 1896)

 

Paul Verlaine was a French poet who was involved with the Symbolist movement (trying to represent absolute truths using language and metaphorical images) and the Decadent movement (aesthetically expressing excess and artificiality). He is considered as one of the greatest French poets of the 19^th century. He abandoned his marriage for his homosexual relationship with Arthur Rimbaud, a boy who admired his poetry. He was imprisoned for 18 months after he shot with a piston at Rimbaud, wounding his wrist. In prison, he converted to Roman Catholicism and wrote some of his masterpieces. In his last years, his life was marred by drug addiction, alcoholism, and poverty. Yet his literary popularity persisted, brining in some income and election as France’s “Prince of Poets” by his peers in 1894. 

"Tears Fall In My Heart" explanation

In the poem, the speaker describes his inner pain the reason of which he doesn’t know. Tears falling in his heart is beautifully juxtaposed with the soft rain on the ground. The poem resonates with us because we all have pains without a reason in our heart. Although occasional tears might not be something to be ashamed of, we have to stay positive and never forget to be always grateful for everything that’s given to us.

"Who Am I?" by Carl Sandburg

 

Who Am I?

My head knocks against the stars.

My feet are on the hilltops.

My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of

universal life.

Down in the sounding foam of primal things I

reach my hands and play with pebbles of

destiny.

I have been to hell and back many times.

I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.

I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.

I know the passionate seizure of beauty

And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs

reading "Keep Off."

 

My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive

in the universe.

 

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/Qcmx8QWrPqc

Who wrote the poem "Who Am I?"

Carl Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967)

 

Carl Sandburg was an American poet, biographer, novelist, journalist, and folklorist. He received three Pulitzer Prizes (two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln). He has often been compared to Walt Whitman for his use of free verse and admiration of the working class.

"Who Am I?" explanation

In the poem, the speaker poses a riddle “who am I?” Using personification and metaphor, he presents more clues to the riddle and finally reveals the answer: Truth. The poet describes the omnipresence, power, and elusiveness of truth in a unique way.

 

"Life in a Bottle" by Robert Browning

Life in a Bottle

Escape me?

Never--

Beloved!

While I am I, and you are you,

So long as the world contains us both,

Me the loving and you the loth,

While the one eludes, must the other pursue.

My life is a fault at last, I fear:

It seems too much like a fate, indeed!

Though I do my best I shall scarce succeed.

But what if I fail of my purpose here?

It is but to keep the nerves at strain,

To dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall,

And, baffled, get up and begin again,--

So the chace takes up one's life, that's all.

While, look but once from your farthest bound

At me so deep in the dust and dark,

No sooner the old hope goes to ground

Than a new one, straight to the self-same mark,

I shape me--

Ever

Removed!

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇 

https://youtu.be/OfYL0fCOngo

 

Who wrote the poem "Life in a Bottle"?

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

Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright in the Victorian era and was widely known for his dramatic monologues. His father was a bank clerk and assembled a personal library of 6,000 books, which became the foundation of Browning’s education. He married the eminent Victorian poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, in 1846, and the couple moved to Italy and lived there until the wife’s death in 1861. He began to attain literary fame in his 50’s and was widely respected in his later years. 

"Life in a Bottle" explanation

In the poem, the speaker expresses his deep love for his beloved and fear of losing her.

"Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her" by Christopher Brennan

 

Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her

If questioning would make us wise

No eyes would ever gaze in eyes;

If all our tale were told in speech

No mouths would wander each to each.

 

Were spirits free from mortal mesh

And love not bound in hearts of flesh

No aching breasts would yearn to meet

And find their ecstasy complete.

 

For who is there that lives and knows

The secret powers by which he grows?

Were knowledge all, what were our need

To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?

 

Then seek not, sweet, the "If" and "Why"

I love you now until I die.

For I must love because I live

And life in me is what you give.

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.

poem video👇

https://youtu.be/nsmZlcJXU54

Who wrote the poem "Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her"?

Christopher Brennan (November 1, 1870 – October 5, 1932)

 

Christopher Brennan was an Australian poet and scholar. His poems were not popular with the public because his original works were published in small editions or circulated privately. However, his works were highly regarded by literary critics for their vitality and sincerity.

"Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her" explanation

In the poem, the speaker tries to answer his loved one’s question of why he loves her. There are no words to describe why he loves her. To him, loving her is the very meaning and reason of his life.