Ode a La Keats

O burgeoning soul of sweet things 
   mellowed to summer's surge,
   with autumn's dim appraisal
   loitered to a final song of ditties,
       the oozes of eve ferment 
       my fewest keen-felt purges;
 
Apollo upon his throne spinning rhyme 
   wild and weary in his gilded city,
   shall he sing thy posy prims 
   in deep delved halls 
       with lamenting love on his lips ----
       stars his eyes,
       moons his garland,
       and zephyr, his breath
       honeyed in Elven tongues?

How I faint to find my words
   whistled in wind,
   some blacker beauty in light,
   some arrayed longing 
       begging from dark, 
       Mountain to moe-hill
       in the shades of vales,
       the swell of seas 
       soothed in tinge;
Mother Earth my palette ----
She of rainbow hues
     and Bright Stars!

How kingdoms fall harsh,
   lidless in forest dim
   darkness! darkness!
   too barren, too ravished....
       naked without even shadow;
       shall I clothe thee with wisdom?
     Sprinkle thy skin 
     with the canvas of the heavens?

Steep in the silts of rills 
   and the leavened soils 
   of bubbling brooks
   drink thy vintage feverish
        for the nectar of nightingales 
        soaked in song
        the gods shall push thy pen 
      prancing, dark winged
      as smooth-perched rooks 

O wan child fettered and foiled!
   thou needed a swifter love all along;
   thou canst express with bitter deeds ----
       idle words too sober without melody,
       a better posy than Shakespeare's?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 6/26/2014 6:38:00 AM
Thank you for entering my contest with this stunning work. Your images are simply beautiful. I love the lines "How I faint to find my words whistled in wind" When we write and speak our words linger on long after we are silent.
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O.J. Hunt Avatar
Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 6/26/2014 12:27:00 PM
Thanks Monterey, it was an honor! Always~~~Keith~~~:-)
Date: 6/23/2014 4:47:00 PM
This is awesome work!! No wonder it is in the winners’ list..Sara
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Date: 6/22/2014 12:57:00 PM
you are welcome... :)
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Date: 6/22/2014 12:47:00 PM
Congrats on a fine win!!!! A truly wonderful ode my friend!!!!!! BBBRAVOOOOO
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Date: 6/22/2014 3:44:00 AM
Hi Keith! This is a beautiful ode, written with so much passion and admiration. I admire Keats immensely; studied all his works and often find myself reciting favourite lines of his! He writes...he paints...he radiates beauty! Congrats on a very deserved win. // paul
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O.J. Hunt Avatar
Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 6/22/2014 11:37:00 AM
Thanks Paul, I too am a huge Keats fan; I have I think all his works and he was 'The Grand High Priest of Beauty' as a critic put it. No other poet achieved more in 4 years than him --- I find his poetry simply intoxicating and I owe much to his genius when I do sometimes 'paint' effectively...
Date: 6/21/2014 10:28:00 PM
Keith, a wonderful win.... xox..Linda
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O.J. Hunt Avatar
Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 6/22/2014 11:38:00 AM
Thanks Linda :-) Always~~Keith~~~
Date: 6/20/2014 10:57:00 PM
Congratulation on a great win on the theme of Letters to poet, keith
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