Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COLLABORATION: AN ECLOGUE, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COLLABORATION: AN ECLOGUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I cannot rhyme, yet feel poetic throes
Last Line: That what he spoke, would be the more admired.)
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Collaboration


'Alternis dicetis: amant alterna Camenae.' -- VIRG.

SCENE. -- A Seat on the Thames Embankment.

BROWN. BLACK.

(BROWN has fair hair, displays a velvet coat,
Pince-nez on nose, and wisp about his throat;
BLACK is stiff-bearded, sturdy, brown of boot,
Wears Harris tweeds, and smokes a brier-root.)

Br. I cannot rhyme, yet feel poetic throes.
Bl. Rhymes I can manage. But my taste is prose.
Br. A happy thought! Supposing we combine?
I'll find the subject,
Bl. And I'll cap the line.
Br. Let me premise that, whether blank or not,
Verse should be rhythmical at any rate.
Bl. I don't object. But it must 'touch the spot.';
And not be 'precious' or 'alembicate.'

Br. Begin then, Muse, -- begin the lofty Song!
Bl. In plainer English, -- 'Roll the ball along!'
Br. 'Life is a Dream' -- as Calderon has said --
Bl. And ought to know, for he has long been dead.
Br. A perilous Journey to a Goal unknown --
Bl. Unless you have some income of your own.

Br. Love is a Need, in Natures incomplete --
Bl. Platonic rubbish! -- and a mere conceit.
Br. A gilded Apple, bitter to the Core --
Bl. Also, a metaphor much heard before.
Br. But Love the Need and Life the Dream exist --
Bl. Though -- as abstractions -- neither would be missed.

Br. And even Sentiment, Affection's Priest --
Bl. Is but an entree in the daily feast.
Br. An entree, yes, -- and often overlooked --
Bl. Provided that your standing-dish be cooked.
Br. Provided, too, you banish Thought and Care --
Bl. Both needless extras in a bill of fare.

Br. That makes four verses. Only, your replies
Have more of crambo than of consequence.
Bl. They have, of course. No Pegasus that flies
Can soar when handicapped by Common-sense.

Br. Which makes another. Underneath the lamp,
I'll write them down --
Bl. And I'll provide the stamp.
Br. 'The stamp!' For what? You think some Magazine? --
Bl. Why not? That is precisely what I mean.

(So said, so done. We find them here and guess
They must forthwith have posted that MS.: --
Each Bard believing, as they both retired,
That what he spoke, would be the more admired.)





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