I was reading some poetry and found this one from William Shakespeare. It is interesting that it was written originally in 1599 . This is verse XII of a larger poem titled 'The Passionate Pilgrim'. The part that interests me is the inference that getting older and the reference to the energy of youth in comparison to slowing down as we grow older (we do things at a slower pace as we get older), is somewhat the same in today's world. The world has changed over the past 411 years yet it appears that human biology and the characteristics of human nature remains the same. How very cool.
The Passionate Pilgrim
Verse XII
Crabbed age and youth cannot live together:
Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care;
Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare.
Youth is full of sport, age's breath is short;
Youth is nimble, age is lame;
Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold;
Youth is wild, and age is tame.
Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee;
O, my love, my love is young!
Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee,
For methinks, thou stay'st too long.
[William Shakespeare]
1599
So - when my boy turns 21 and I'm (quickly working it out here at my desk... where's that calculator?!) 59 (phew!) I'll think back on this poem and curse Mr Shakespeare very loudly...
ReplyDelete... should I remember that is!
Curse my soggy memory! Haha!
;-)
Me thinks you need to get out from under your desk and catch a breath of fresh air.....lol Breathe in that beautiful sea breeze you got up there near the ocean....lol
ReplyDeleteBut don't you think it's interesting that over 400 years later and the characteristics and biology of human beings remains the same. Or you not that old yet that you noticed.....lol
Lucky you!!!!
Me I'm heading for old age with a walking stick and man have I noticed how slow my body has gotten, I even walk slower and my children zip around me like flies, it's scary but funny.
Have no fear I intend to age gracefully if slowly.... got not problem with that one....lol
Good to see you Belongum, I am looking forward to your blogs.
ReplyDeleteThis William who shakes his spear, I like him. I too want too shake my spear at old age. Want to find my way back into the nectar of my youth and all its colourful memories... William Shakes a spear and we ought to do the same!!
ReplyDeleteAye Aye Captain, that we should!
ReplyDeleteCatain my captain... ain't that from the dead poet's society?
ReplyDeleteYes, thats one of my favourite movies. Walt Whitman poem goes like this:
ReplyDeleteO Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead
That Dead Poet's Society is a lovely film and, you know, very thought provoking. Actually, if more people would see it perhaps we'd see a lot more of this standing on desk thing. Next time you disagree with John Stanton, stand on your desk (or his) and see what his response is...better still, I advise all indig land claimants to stand on their court chairs or the judge's desk to make their point. Because no one is listening, so why not. I mean if it worked for those Dead Poet Society Chaps why can't it work here??
ReplyDeleteNot sure that would work because it was a sign of respect when they stood on their chairs and chanted....'Oh Captain my Captain'....
ReplyDeleteYes of course, what was I thinking... I guess I was taken by that last scene where in the face of being dominated the students showed their true courage given by their 'Captain' to follow their own heart. In the face of being dominated...what is left but to stand one's ground...to stand on a table...or chair...and to tell that person what you think?? Maybe we should try it one day for a test run in the University Club :)
ReplyDeletelol Thats funny, we could do that one day
ReplyDeleteYarn noonook? Kwoppin yiddin?
ReplyDelete