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BALLADE OF AESTHETIC ADJECTIVES, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: There be 'subtle' and 'sweet', that are bad ones to beat
Last Line: Intense' is the adjective dearest to me!
Subject(s): Adjectives


There be 'subtle' and 'sweet', that are bad ones to beat,
There are 'lives unlovely', and 'souls astray';
There is much to be done yet with 'moody' and 'meet',
And 'ghastly', and 'grimly', and 'gaunt', and 'gray';
We should ever be 'blithesome', but never be 'gay',
And 'splendid' is suited to 'summer' and 'sea';
'Consummate', they say, is enjoying its day-
'Intense' is the adjective dearest to me!


The snows and the rose they are 'windy' and 'fleet',
And 'frantic' and 'faint' are delight and dismay;
Yea, 'sanguine', it seems, as the juice of the beet,
Are 'the hands of the king' in a general way:
There be loves that 'quicken', and 'sicken', and 'slay';
'Supreme' is the song of the bard of the free;
But of adjectives all that I name in my lay
'Intense' is the adjective dearest to me!
The matron intense-let us sit at her feet,
And pelt her with lilies as long as we may;


The maiden intense-is not always discreet:
But the singer intense, in his 'singing array',
Will win all the world with his roundelay:
While 'blithe' birds carol from tree to tree,
And art unto nature doth simper, and say-
'"Intense" is the adjective dearest to me!'


Envoy
Prince, it is surely as good as a play
To mark how the poets and painters agree;
But of plumage aesthetic that feathers the jay,
'Intense' is the adjective dearest to me!






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