XLI

Don March 30th, 2009

Wordsworth wrote an endless poem in blank verse on” the growth of a poet’s mind.”  I shall attempt a more modest feat for a more distracted age: a blog, “Things which a Lifetime of Trying to Be a Poet has Taught Me.”  

            Here are a couple of short poems that will do to make an entry.  Scriptural paraphrase is a time-honored genre.  I flatter myself that the first of these is better than Sternhold and Hopkins in that mode.  The second piece is a bit of light verse that needs no explanation; it is a perfect commentary on itself. 

 I PETER 1:24-5 All flesh is like the meadow grass, Her glory as its flower.

Sun beats, wind blows, the seasons pass

 

They wither in an hour.

 

The petals fade and fall and die;

 

Their fate, like ours, is sure.

 

Not so, the Word of God!  For aye

 

It lives and shall endure.

 

 THE MUSE  You cannot force the sovereign Muse

To lend her aid to grace your views,

 

For if you try, she will refuse.

 

And your foul fate (it cannot miss)

 

Will be to write a poem like this!

 

Donald T. Williams, PhD

 

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