Welcome and greetings, my dearest digital friends!!
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the quintessential poets during the poetic revolution known as Romanticism.
Think of the epic writers associated with that period – Keats, the Brontë sisters, Coleridge, Tennyson, Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, William Blake… to name a few!
Shelley drowned in a horrific boating accident at the age of only 29 years old. But he left a brilliant legacy of writing in his wake (sorry, couldn’t resist).
And as you may know, after years of scandalous relations, he was married to Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. Partners and collaborators, rumor has it Percy may have even had a part in co-writing some of her magnum opus.
Of his oeuvre, my personal favorite poem is Ozymandias. You’ll find a link to it at the bottom of this post, if unfamiliar.
Interestingly, the third-to-last (and BEST, imho) episode of my favorite TV show, Breaking Bad, is also titled Ozymandias. A rather apt homage, to be sure.
All of this to say, this week’s poem runs in parallel with those themes of hubris. And the ironically tragic justice served to those who deem themselves so superior.
Enjoy.
Please let me know your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to this week’s poem in the ‘Leave a Reply’ comment section at the bottom of this page.
-PS Conway ☘️ ☘️ ☘️
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seaside of broken stones
stumble and stagger ‘long the broken stones
that once kept safe our great fortress of dreams
seaside detritus now wave-tossed and smoothed
their magic lost ‘neath the truculence of time
the ocean has forgotten her tide
lapless and fog-addled, she is confused
perhaps, too lost in sweet reveries of love
lost in some psalms that once roused her passions
do you recall, my love, the springtide night
we summoned the stars to fall?
collected them all in our hands?
their pale light our transubstantiation
the earth trembled at such hubris; we laughed
like nightingales, our sweet paean echoed
endless and perfect down the battlements,
for what is real before the will of gods?
oh, those lessons learned, loneliness lingers
as a relentless shadow under moonlight;
as real as death, but without the gift of absence…
the gift to forget this seaside of broken stones.
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If interested, here is the link to Shelley’s “Ozymandias“
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What a lovely poem with such creative images! Great use of alliteration and consonance as witnessed in the first four lines! The objects come to life through your use of personification, such as in lines 5-8. An excellent use of poetic imagery and style make this poem a real winner with me!
Thanks so much, PS!!! Love love love this comment, truly a literary analysis… couldn’t ask for more from a lit class! Cheers, my friend. 💙🌹🙏🏻🍷✨✨
I love the idea of the ocean forgetting her tide. As we get older and our dreams of youth gradually fade away. We are indeed lucky that we forget some of those desires. Otherwise, old age would be too painful. Terrific poem Pat!
So well said, Naomi!!! Especially the terrific poem part – hahahaha! Thanks, my friend. 🙏🏻😁🌹💙✨
I read this poem amidst the chaos of house moving.
I’m curious after your introduction … I journey in and by the third verse I am in awe of your beautiful words and the imagery they portray. At journeys end I realise how each individual person approaches a poem from their own experience and therefore will take something completely different out of it.
The word ‘hubris’ is interesting, for I am humbled by your poetry.
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Hope the move was easy and without too much headache, Sandie. i am so appreciative for your wonderful comments, my friend. Thank you so much. ☘️☘️🙏🏻🙏🏻☘️☘️
A refreshing dance of words along the ocean as my beginnings were in Oregon and the ocean a place my soul still resides. I too am humbled by your beautiful words 🙏🌬🌊
I’ve visited the Oregon coast twice… absolutely breathtaking! I can totally understand how those memories embed themselves in your soul. Thanks so much for your kind words, too! 💙🙏🏻🌹🍷✨
simply W o W.
“as real as death, but without the gift of absence…” profound – to the core.
Thank you.
Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻💙🌹✨