Sign in with Facebook
Dolors's Reviews > Selected Poems
Selected Poems
by
by
My first contact with the most known satanical Romantic poet hasn’t disappointed. Lord Byron emerges in his poems as the immensely popular hero, defiant, melancholic, haunted by secret guilt, the eternal scandalous irreverent freethinker.
We are the fools of Time and Terror: Days
Steal on us, and steal from us; yet we live,
Loathing our life, and dreading still to die . Manfred
Although this selection doesn’t include his famous Don Juan , I have found plenty of passion and strong emotion in his stanzas, specially in Cain: a Mystery , where he keeps defying not only religious convention, giving Lucifer a clergyman voice:
(Speaking about Lucifer)
CAIN. He is God.
ADAH. How know’st thou?
CAIN. He speaks like A God.
ADAH. So did the Serpent, and it lied.
but also unashamedly proclaiming his widely known extravagant views on relationships in, for example, making ADAH not only CAIN’s sister but also his wife and lover.
Writer of metaphysical poems, like his famous Manfred, Byron rejects the Wordsworthian belief in the benevolence of Nature and insists on the independence and self-sufficiency of the human mind, which doesn’t bow to any supernatural authority.
I have not been thy dupe nor am thy prey,
But was my own destroyer, and will be
My own hereafter. – Back, ye baffled fiends!
The hand of death is on me – but not yours!
At the same time though, I find a kind of paradox in Byron’s style and the content of his poems. His almost neoclassical order and formal discipline collide with his exulting ideas impregnated with vigorous thoughts of liberty and satirical criticism.
Tyranny
Is far the worst of treasons. Dost thou deem
None rebels except subjects? The prince who
Neglects or violates his trust is more
A brigand than the robber-chief. The Two Foscari
But one thing in common in all his poems is this new figure of the Gothic Hero-Villain full of pride, courage, and even noble virtues such as honor and altruism; but also moody, remorseful, alienated and oppressed creatures, left to dwell in loneliness and incomprehension. Difficult to tell whether Byron was absorbed into his own created characters or he projected his myriad experiences through them.
In any case, I find great appeal in this flawed new anti-hero, sensing original motivations behind Byron’s works. Lacking the inhibitions of his contemporaries, he created verse that is exuberant, spontaneous, digressive and lucid, a celebration of an “unadorned reality.”
One can’t help but admire him. With all his debauchery and flaws.
We are the fools of Time and Terror: Days
Steal on us, and steal from us; yet we live,
Loathing our life, and dreading still to die . Manfred
Although this selection doesn’t include his famous Don Juan , I have found plenty of passion and strong emotion in his stanzas, specially in Cain: a Mystery , where he keeps defying not only religious convention, giving Lucifer a clergyman voice:
(Speaking about Lucifer)
CAIN. He is God.
ADAH. How know’st thou?
CAIN. He speaks like A God.
ADAH. So did the Serpent, and it lied.
but also unashamedly proclaiming his widely known extravagant views on relationships in, for example, making ADAH not only CAIN’s sister but also his wife and lover.
Writer of metaphysical poems, like his famous Manfred, Byron rejects the Wordsworthian belief in the benevolence of Nature and insists on the independence and self-sufficiency of the human mind, which doesn’t bow to any supernatural authority.
I have not been thy dupe nor am thy prey,
But was my own destroyer, and will be
My own hereafter. – Back, ye baffled fiends!
The hand of death is on me – but not yours!
At the same time though, I find a kind of paradox in Byron’s style and the content of his poems. His almost neoclassical order and formal discipline collide with his exulting ideas impregnated with vigorous thoughts of liberty and satirical criticism.
Tyranny
Is far the worst of treasons. Dost thou deem
None rebels except subjects? The prince who
Neglects or violates his trust is more
A brigand than the robber-chief. The Two Foscari
But one thing in common in all his poems is this new figure of the Gothic Hero-Villain full of pride, courage, and even noble virtues such as honor and altruism; but also moody, remorseful, alienated and oppressed creatures, left to dwell in loneliness and incomprehension. Difficult to tell whether Byron was absorbed into his own created characters or he projected his myriad experiences through them.
In any case, I find great appeal in this flawed new anti-hero, sensing original motivations behind Byron’s works. Lacking the inhibitions of his contemporaries, he created verse that is exuberant, spontaneous, digressive and lucid, a celebration of an “unadorned reality.”
One can’t help but admire him. With all his debauchery and flaws.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Selected Poems.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
April 25, 2013
–
Started Reading
April 25, 2013
– Shelved
April 26, 2013
–
9.43%
"Sorrow is knowlegde: they who know the most
Must mourn the deepest o'er the fatal truth,
The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life."
page
10
Must mourn the deepest o'er the fatal truth,
The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life."
April 29, 2013
–
22.64%
"We are the fools of time and terror:Days
Steal on us and steal from us; yet we live,
Loathing our life, and dreading still to die."
page
24
Steal on us and steal from us; yet we live,
Loathing our life, and dreading still to die."
May 1, 2013
–
93.4%
"I have not been thy dupe nor am thy prey,
But was my own destroyer, and will be My own hereafter. - Back, ye baffled fiends!
The hand of death is on me - but not yours!"
page
99
But was my own destroyer, and will be My own hereafter. - Back, ye baffled fiends!
The hand of death is on me - but not yours!"
May 1, 2013
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
[deleted user]
(new)
May 02, 2013 06:48PM
Dolors. You are a phenomenally gifted reviewer of poetry. I admire how widely read you are.
reply
|
flag
Steve aka Sckenda wrote: "Dolors. You are a phenomenally gifted reviewer of poetry. I admire how widely read you are."Thanks Steve, you are too kind! I actually feel illiterate since I joined GR...
It's stimulating though, with so many new books and authors to discover I'm all excited like a child waiting for Santa to bring his presents on Christmas Day! :)))
Dolors wrote: "Steve aka Sckenda wrote: "Dolors. You are a phenomenally gifted reviewer of poetry. I admire how widely read you are."
Thanks Steve, you are too kind! I actually feel illiterate since I joined GR...."
That is a great analogy. I feel the same. :)
Thanks Steve, you are too kind! I actually feel illiterate since I joined GR...."
That is a great analogy. I feel the same. :)
A scintillating write-up of reviewing poetry.Difficult to tell whether Byron was absorbed into his own created characters or he projected his myriad experiences through them
This is sometimes the most challenging intersection of thoughts that makes it a bit intriguing to decipher a poet and paraphrasing the writings. Yet, a very interesting and captivating point. Thanks Dolors, as always.
Your wonderful review calls unto me to reread the poems of the English Romantics. I had not caught the difference between Byron and Wordsworth in terms of their views toward nature and the human mind. I last read Byron when last year when I reread Don Juan. I need to give Manfred a reread. Cogently stated with elegance and a dash of that distinctive voice of Dolors.
Another great review of another great Romantic poet. As with everything you write, insightful and beautifully written.
Dolors,I am happily taken back to University sitting in class taking it all in. I was three fourths of the way to an English Literature degree when I was dissuaded by my father and fiance. If only I had the courage I have now, I would be writing and reading day in and day out. You write and teach as if you are a professor; even more beautifully actually. You write as if you are a poet. Maybe you are and if so I would love to read some original Dolors. I admire your lyricism, your insight, and your skill. I shall have to read more Byron and his anti-hero. I always enjoy a visit with a bad boy as long as I don't let him stay. Peace.
Praj wrote: "A scintillating write-up of reviewing poetry.Difficult to tell whether Byron was absorbed into his own created characters or he projected his myriad experiences through them
This is sometimes t..."
Thanks to you Praj for reading and commenting on one of my oldies, which reminds me of my first days in GR. Starting with Keats, I developed a consistent crush with the English Romantics in my mid twenties and finished reading selected poetry of them all. Byron was the most daunting but also the funniest to explore and his irreverence diluted with the one displayed by his characters, hence the doubt.
sckenda wrote: "Your wonderful review calls unto me to reread the poems of the English Romantics. I had not caught the difference between Byron and Wordsworth in terms of their views toward nature and the human m..."With your deep understanding of the religious imagery and your knowledge of the Bible, I am certain you'd locate many blasphemous references in Byron's Manfred and draw parallels with his other works and other authors of the time. That would be certainly a treat to read, Steve. And something I will look forward to. Thanks for revisiting this oldie of mine and posting such a supportive comment.
Arnie wrote: "Another great review of another great Romantic poet. As with everything you write, insightful and beautifully written."Thank you so much Arnie. Your comment means the world to me. Thanks.
René wrote: "Dolors,I am happily taken back to University sitting in class taking it all in. I was three fourths of the way to an English Literature degree when I was dissuaded by my father and fiance. If o..."
Taking your comments as reference, I have no doubt of your literary skills both as a reader and as a writer René. And if you add your kindness and perceptiveness to those abilities, you get the model for an exemplary and impassioned teacher, one of those who changes the lives of their students. Allow me to recommend a wonderful webpage called Coursera, where you can find countless courses in arts (literature, cinema, music), also psychology and many other fields that are completely free and mentally stimulating. That page allowed me to fully understand the English Romantics and the Modern& Contemporary American Poetry, so you might want to give it a try someday! :)
Dolors,You are kind as you are talented. I did become a professor of Health Education but it never held the passion for me as Literature does. I am excited to check out your web page as soon as possible If it contributed on iota to your breadth of knowledge; I want some too! :) Have a lovely day my friend.
Ahhh to be Byron. He squeezed life like an orange and drank the glass dry. I've outlived him in years, but it is doubtful even if I double his lifespan that I will have lived life as fully as he. Love your passion for the poets! :-)
Jeffrey wrote: "Ahhh to be Byron. He squeezed life like an orange and drank the glass dry. I've outlived him in years, but it is doubtful even if I double his lifespan that I will have lived life as fully as he. L..."Thanks for stopping by in one of my oldies and sticking long enough with my babbling to post one of your refreshingly cheeky comments Jeffrey!
