It's just a wonderful poem. Jealous down the years. I go to the pub and have a beer or a wine, relax and churn out a few lines here and there, but never this. Oh, well. . .
I was in 9th grade listening to The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel when it occurred to me: take away the music and this is the poem I need for my Poetry class.
This beautiful poem brought me back to my freshman year in college in 1966 as an English major when I read it and analyzed it in class! I then saw the Elgin Marbles in London a number of years ago. What a treat that was! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I am in the process of finding a publisher for our book, “Unleashing the Magic of Children’s Poetry.” Our other book, “The Shaping of Thought” was published in 2010 by Roman and Littlefield.
As an aside, I am now an artist as a second career starting in 2011. 🤗🥰
Oh my stars, I was just hauled back to my last year in school wherein I wrote an ode to "Ode to a Grecian Urn." Thank you for the reminder. I also believe strongly that it is every person's responsibility to support the people who are makers of art, whichever version of art one most loves. For me, it's supporting painters, as I cannot draw to save my soul. My house and office are filled with the colorful renderings of people who possess gifts I cannot begin to fathom. Much good energy to you and your readers!
Yes, Tammis, age has tempered my initial passion for the Romantics and now I love the spare quality of modern poets. We need an uncluttered view of these intemperate times !
Music and all performing arts 🎶 are a way to transcend the mundane and immerse oneself in the sublime, the beautiful blissful world of the spirit and the Divine. That is why I play and teach piano.
Poetry and visual arts are also an expression of beauty and joy.
I first read this poem when I returned to college in my forties. I liked it so much that it became the subject of one of the papers I wrote for that class. Thank you for the reminder. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it again!
When I was a young teenager I read the Ode and found it overdone and silly. When I was in my 40s I saw the Elgin Marbles in London. I was in awe to see such beauty and had a fleeting sense that I had encountered them before. Now. in my 70s thanks to your article today I was able to pull out my pictures, read the poem and see the physical art that inspired the verbal art. Thank you Dan.
I think your experience is similar to how many folks experience poetry and music and art... much of it doesn't make much sense till we are older, and then even more sense when we are even older! Wow what a neat thing to have gotten to see the real Elgin Marbles! Something that leads me pause and reflect is that Keats was only maybe 25 when he wrote that poem....I don't remember just what I was doing at age 25.. but I am sure it was not having deep thoughts or reflecting on life in such a thought provoking way.
It's just a wonderful poem. Jealous down the years. I go to the pub and have a beer or a wine, relax and churn out a few lines here and there, but never this. Oh, well. . .
As Rex Stout once remarked in one of his Nero Wolfe detective novels, "You should never mess with Keats." Stout was right.
I read this on Facebook, posted by a friend: "Without ART, earth is just EH" - 'nuff said!
Thank you
I was in 9th grade listening to The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel when it occurred to me: take away the music and this is the poem I need for my Poetry class.
Thank you.
A.R.T.’s. Has made my mind to upgrade to donation
This beautiful poem brought me back to my freshman year in college in 1966 as an English major when I read it and analyzed it in class! I then saw the Elgin Marbles in London a number of years ago. What a treat that was! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I am in the process of finding a publisher for our book, “Unleashing the Magic of Children’s Poetry.” Our other book, “The Shaping of Thought” was published in 2010 by Roman and Littlefield.
As an aside, I am now an artist as a second career starting in 2011. 🤗🥰
Oh my stars, I was just hauled back to my last year in school wherein I wrote an ode to "Ode to a Grecian Urn." Thank you for the reminder. I also believe strongly that it is every person's responsibility to support the people who are makers of art, whichever version of art one most loves. For me, it's supporting painters, as I cannot draw to save my soul. My house and office are filled with the colorful renderings of people who possess gifts I cannot begin to fathom. Much good energy to you and your readers!
Yes, Tammis, age has tempered my initial passion for the Romantics and now I love the spare quality of modern poets. We need an uncluttered view of these intemperate times !
Music and all performing arts 🎶 are a way to transcend the mundane and immerse oneself in the sublime, the beautiful blissful world of the spirit and the Divine. That is why I play and teach piano.
Poetry and visual arts are also an expression of beauty and joy.
Life is complete with all of these gifts.
Thank you Dan Rather for this wonderful reminder.
Thank you, Mr. Rather. After 65 years and a degree in English, I finally understand this poem!
Wonderful piece! And thank you for reminding us of Keats and Ode. Enjoyed all of it!
I first read this poem when I returned to college in my forties. I liked it so much that it became the subject of one of the papers I wrote for that class. Thank you for the reminder. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it again!
When I was a young teenager I read the Ode and found it overdone and silly. When I was in my 40s I saw the Elgin Marbles in London. I was in awe to see such beauty and had a fleeting sense that I had encountered them before. Now. in my 70s thanks to your article today I was able to pull out my pictures, read the poem and see the physical art that inspired the verbal art. Thank you Dan.
I think your experience is similar to how many folks experience poetry and music and art... much of it doesn't make much sense till we are older, and then even more sense when we are even older! Wow what a neat thing to have gotten to see the real Elgin Marbles! Something that leads me pause and reflect is that Keats was only maybe 25 when he wrote that poem....I don't remember just what I was doing at age 25.. but I am sure it was not having deep thoughts or reflecting on life in such a thought provoking way.
Thank you Dan Rather for the Smile...art inspiring art