10-08-2016, 10:48 AM
I thought at first that this is a 'found' poem, with every line from somewhere in the Canon. While that might still be the case, I am less inclined to think that way now.
The poem reads disjointed to me, where you're moving from talking about Shakespeare's trashing his rivals in verse, to a performance of R&J, to a summation of how he's the greatest. There's too much telling and not enough showing, to use a hackneyed phrase.
The poem reads disjointed to me, where you're moving from talking about Shakespeare's trashing his rivals in verse, to a performance of R&J, to a summation of how he's the greatest. There's too much telling and not enough showing, to use a hackneyed phrase.
(10-07-2016, 01:14 PM)RC James Wrote: What a rascal you were, in the guise
of godly apparition spouting verities ....he didn't become a godly apparition until after his death. In his own lifetime, Shakespeare was highly respected as an accomplished playwright and successful businessman, but not the god-like figure he became later on. So 'were in the guise of' is incorrect.
heard above the din of lesser men,
shallow in their contumely for you. ...Ah yes, Greene
Ah, but you veiled in glissading rhyme ...not sure how you can 'veil' something in something that's 'glissading' i.e. sliding down
contempt for worrisome detractors each,
covered the field in glory manifest above,
with music of your fulsome brow, mannered ...Unless someone's playing Will's bald pate for a bongo, not sure how the 'brow' can have 'music'. I suppose you are speaking metaphorically, but it's a pretty weak metaphor.
where necessary, but always, within reason. ...nice
We missed the first night’s fervent hush
when Juliet wakes to find Romeo’s still body, ...abrupt shift to the present time. The poet seems to be talking about a recent performance of R&J, but it's not heard again after this strophe.
and the silence, beyond applause, at the end.
We lack a visage akin to yours nowadays.
We are thirsty for wit perched upon
the brink of danger and hoary escapades. ...'thirsty', 'perched' and 'brink' go well together, but 'visage' in the first line is generic. How about 'We lack the pool from where you drank, remain / thirsty etc.'
Now, let us bend a knee and issue learned praise,
this, your world, above all others, holds sway
in our minds and hearts, no other shines just so. ...'holds sway', 'minds and hearts', and the whole idea of a luminary being a planet brighter than others all sound like Shakespearean cliches - perhaps that's the intention.
~ I think I just quoted myself - Achebe

