Rate a Poem: In Memoriam VIII

Rate This Poem

  • 5 Stars: a masterpiece

    Votes: 5 62.5%
  • 4 Stars: a strong poem, but some elements didn't appeal to me

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • 3 Stars: a good poem, but it didn't move me to any great extent

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2 Stars: a flawed or uninspiring piece of work

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 1 Star: does absolutely nothing for me

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    8

Ralyks

Untold stories inside
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 14, 2005
Messages
1,002
Reaction score
100
Location
VA
Website
www.editorskylar.com
Now that we’ve been given the green light to post a “rate a poem of our own”…



In Memoriam VIII (1850)
Alfred Lord Tennyson


The wish, that of the living whole

No life may fail beyond the grave,
Derives it not from what we have
The likest God within the soul?



Are God and Nature then at strife,
That Nature lends such evil dreams?
So careful of the type she seems,
So careless of the single life;


That I, considering everywhere
Her secret meaning in her deeds,
And finding that of fifty seeds
She often brings but one to bear,


I falter where I firmly trod,
And falling with my weight of cares
Upon the great world's altar-stairs
That slope thro' darkness up to God,


I stretch lame hands of faith, and grope,
And gather dust and chaff, and call
To what I feel is Lord of all,
And faintly trust the larger hope.
 
Last edited:

William Haskins

poet
Kind Benefactor
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
29,099
Reaction score
8,848
Age
58
Website
www.poisonpen.net
thank you, skylar. i've added it to the index. tennyson had a wonderfully fluid style, and this is a great example of his devotional work.
 

Paint

Warrior of Truth
Poetry Book Collaborator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
1,549
Reaction score
389
Location
Standing at the precipitous cliff, believing I can
Website
www.shawnk.com
Isn't this one wonderful? I love the argument of God and Nature. It is a masterpiece in my eyes, so smooth and inspirational, heavy with meaning. I wonder how long he took to write it and if he felt exhausted when he was fininshed.

Thanks for sharing it!
Paint
 

A. Hamilton

here for a minute...catch me?
Kind Benefactor
Poetry Book Collaborator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 21, 2005
Messages
4,594
Reaction score
2,257
Location
N. Cali
Oh I like this. It's one I can repeatedly read and ponder.
 

oneovu

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
193
Reaction score
39
I liked this a lot, skylarburris. Thanks.
smile.gif