For some weird reason I am reminded of the numerous times I strode onto a stage to recite my poem. The high of winning the prize for the right pronunciation, modulation and emotion was quite irreplaceable in those innocent years.
Flashes of many a poem I recited in my school years have been whizzing past since last night....
Maybe they want to be said out aloud yet again....
Excerpts from The Lady of Shalott: Alfred Tennyson
There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.
She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces through the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.
Who is this? And what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot;
But Lancelot mused a little space
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."
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2 comments:
i could never memorize well enough to recite in my school days, but i remember this guy who once recited this pome about a whole lot of rats - pied piper i think it was called - the way he did it has been etched in my mind.
how u been, health and all?
the loquacity is appreciated, much! thanks :)
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