Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SHAKESPEARE, by EDWARD L. PONTZ


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SHAKESPEARE, by                    
First Line: Thou livest still: some modicum of time
Last Line: None but thyself thyself could valuate.
Subject(s): Dramatists; Imagination; Plays & Playwrights; Poetry & Poets; Praise; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Writing & Writers; Fancy


I

Thou livest still: some modicum of time
A changing vestment chafed thy sprite august;
Cabined and cramped thy gesture; 'twas the lime
That mires the lark: thou canst not change to dust.

Thy Song is thou: a moment things are things,
And then are memories; what breathing form
To me is real as thy voice that sings
Unfading wisdom, beauty, shine and storm?

Thy Thought is thou: and if the body gross
'Gainst sublimated mind is valued not,
What friends to me, how actual and close,
The changeless children of thy fancy got!

The time-ghosts pass; thine altar's blazes fill
A pensive world with light: thou livest still.

II

One needs thy art for thine own art's expounding;
One needs thy tongue to tongue thy proper praise:
Thy tongue and art flame forth so high astounding,
Thy votaries can only gape and gaze.

The wizardry of thy imagination
Could play the light upon thy creatures best:
Project fat laughter, heart-sick contemplation,
Black jealousy, mad dotage, and the rest.

Showman supreme of magic show and human;
Of glade enchanted, market, palace, war;
How deft thy wand o'er fairy, love and woman!
How thou canst twirl a flower, king or star!

Thy stature and thy span now loom so great,
None but thyself thyself could valuate.





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