Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Ballad of the Scholar's Lament, ee cummings

When I have struggled through three hundred yearsof Roman history,
and hastened o'erSome French play-(though I have my private fears
Of flunking sorely when I take the floorIn class),
-when I have steeped my soul in gore
And Greek, and figured over half a reamWith Algebra,
which I do (not) adore,
How shall I manage to compose a theme?
It's well enough to talk of poor and peers,
And munch the golden apples' shiny core,
And lay a lot of heroes on their biers;-
While the great Alec, knocking down a score,
Takes out his handkerchief, boohoo-ing, "More!"-
But harshly I awaken from my dream,
To find a new,-er,-privilege,-in store:
How shall I manage to compose a theme?

After I've swallowed prophecies of seers,
And trailed Aeneas from the Trojan shore,
Learned how Achilles,
after many jeers,
On piggy Agamemnon got to sore,
And heard how Hercules, Esq.,
toreAround,
and swept and dusted with a stream,
There's one last duty,-l
et's not call it bore,-
How shall I manage to compose a theme?

Envoi
Of what avail is all my mighty lore?
I beat my breast,
I tear my hair,
I scream:"Behold, I have a Herculean chore.
How shall I manage to compose a theme?"
ee cummings

nb: this mosyly reminds me of when i stoop to write and im pouring out blank v verses. it helps me get on my feet, when i ponder what greats such as ththese also churn out the same yarns....