Grecian Urn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Grecian Urn

 

     Honoring “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats

 

What hast thou seen, oh Grecian urn

Since on the wheel thy shape was turned?

Of what great deeds have you since learned

And wept for tragedy unearned?

 

I look at you and think and stare

Your history you will not share

You seem to rest without a care

A cold, clay jar just sitting there

 

And yet the things that you must know!

The laugh of friends, the hate of foes

The pains of fate and lover's glow

The play of child and griever’s woe

 

And ‘though I think you must be wise

You never speak or utter sighs

You shout no truths--you tell no lies

Your silence everything denies

 

How many lengthy years will pass

As you watch silent through this glass

And who will grieve for you, alas

When careless hand ends you at last?

 

 

©2010 Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

Author's Note

Dear Reader,

While this was not originally intended, the rhyme scheme turned out to be aaaa, i.e., a form of mono-rhyme.

Best regards,

Rick

Reviews

[Barbara Walker]

Beautiful, Rick! I humbly make one remark, though I hesitate for who am I to question the master who (whom?) I always learn lessons much appreciated!? It concerns the last line. As written, I stumbled a bit, my brain wanting to read "when careless hands end you at last." It seems such a nitpicky thing, however I want to give you honest feedback. This truly is a beautiful poem.

[Helen Crutchett]

A big congratulations for winning 2nd prize in James' Tetrameter contest. Well done!
And thanks again for entering this superb write.

Helena

[Helen Crutchett]

Dear Rick,

Another fantastic write on the beautiful "Grecian Urn."

I liked the rhyme and it worked so well and your words superb!

I have to ponder whether Grecian Urn 1 or 11 is my favourite. Hard pick indeed!

Helena :)

[Helen Crutchett]

Much enjoyed Rick. Good luck!

Helena

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear Rick

As I set up the 'Iambic Tetrameter' contest in the Blue Rose Cafe, and Helena has been so kind as to ask me to judge it, I want to make one remark on this piece at the outset, as I will do with anyone else who enters.

I am not going to review it as it would be unfair to others.

I would note, you follow the rules of the contest perfectly with sustained Iambic Tetrameter, with a rhyme of your own choice and a throwback to the past.

This remark for anyone else watching too.

In friendship

James

[Rick Puetter]

Hi James,

Thanks. I understand holding off on any review while the contest is still open. Hope you get a lot of entries. Tetrameter is used in a large number of my poems and I vary between iambic and trochaic metric feet. I rarely use more complicated feet. I guess I just like the simplicity.

Best regards,

Rick

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear Rick

As I created this Blue Rose Cafe contest and Helena was kind enough to ask me to judge it, I just want to comment briefly on each entry as they come in.

It would be unfair for me to review this as the game is in play.

As with others, who wish to enter this contest, I just want to make one remark.

So as you know and others can see if they look, this is a perfectly shaped piece of rhyming Iambic Tetrameter, with a throwback to the past, honouring completely the rules set.

In friendship

James

[Zahra]

And ‘though I think you must be wise
You never speak or utter sighs
You shout no truths--you tell no lies
Your silence everything denies

simple and so effective. Keats' grecian urn is my favourite. loved this one. well penned my friend.

[wordwarrior]

It's wonderful Rick! I love that last verse, sa there is always someone who will shatter the history of things. Your rhyme is seamless and the monorhynme worked really well here. I didn't even notice because of the wonderful imagery you used!
Great writing!

[David Lewis Paget]

Quite brill... I think Keats would be quite chuffed to see your inspiration along his original impulse.

[Agni Barathi]

Nice poem. Liked these lines the best.

'And ‘though I think you must be wise
You never speak or utter sighs
You shout no truths--you tell no lies
Your silence everything denies'

It is the mute that impress upon us as those who know truths. To extend the thought...

'If thy heart oh urn holds in it
such silence wrought by men
Then what of trees, of seas lit
by the glory of Him beyond our ken?'

Let me read part deux now...