Be Galahad

[qimissung]

the fire rises like bile
it must be used to make a shoe
for a shining steed of purest white
or a gilded railing for a palace
or a sword that's sharp enough to cut
that which ties the earth to her mistress gravitas
on no account must it be freed to wander loose
about the land, to burn, to pillage, to destroy
hold fast to the purity of your passion
lest it turn to lead or you to stone
free it, to be sure
but wield it like a sword for good
be Galahad,
be honest and be true

[Dark Muse]

I really liked this one, it had some moving imagery

[AuntShecky]

Good concept and fine as it is, but perhaps you could challenge yourself to write the same poem in a form prevalent during the era in which Sir Galahad and his fellow round table knights flourished. A rime royal, perhaps, or maybe the bob and wheel form found in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight."

[qimissung]

That's unlikely, but I will consider it. Actually, I've read "Sir Gawain," but I've never heard of the bob and wheel form. Thank you AuntShecky, I'll check it out. On the other hand, while I do think, as someone who likes to write, that being aware of and developing one's strenghts' is important, I don't see why we can't use themes from the past but use them in a more modern way, too.

Thank you also, Dark Muse.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I thought I could feel the rock on which you stood as you declaimed this! It rolls out with such conviction.

[qimissung]

Thanks Prince. Actually, I was having a moment where I was questioning something I did, and wondering if I had done the right thing. I think I wrote it more as a reminder of what I aspire to be, as a human being.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Thanks Prince. Actually, I was having a moment where I was questioning something I did, and wondering if I had done the right thing. I think I wrote it more as a reminder of what I aspire to be, as a human being.

Oh, those aspirations! Both my pseudonym here and "Alyosha" on another site are derived from characters in Dostoievski whom critics designate collectively as "Holy Idiots" and I created a character in my A Russian Novel that was based on those two.

They are "holy idiots" because they are too innocent or good-hearted ever to see meanness or condescension in the way anyone treats them.

Not that that describes me. On the contrary! But I chose those pseudonyms as a marker at which to aim.

From the limited acquaintance I have of you (and I trust that implicitly) I see you as a most Galahadlike person! Of course you may at times behave less than your ideal, but could we, would we be human otherwiise?

[AuntShecky]

From the limited acquaintance I have of you (and I trust that implicitly) I see you as a most Galahadlike person! Of course you may at times behave less than your ideal, but could we, would we be human otherwiise?

I completely concur. Cf. Browning: "Each man's reach must exceed his grasp/ Or what's a heaven for?" (Quoted from memory. Hope it's accurate.)

[PrinceMyshkin]

I completely concur. Cf. Browning: "Each man's reach must exceed his grasp/ Or what's a heaven for?" (Quoted from memory. Hope it's accurate.)

I believe it's A man's reach... as far as I recollect, and reminds me of my Grade 9 Geometry teacher, Mr. Saunders, who would raise his right arm high in the air and passionately declaim it.

Trouble is, he had lost the thumb on that hand, possibly in WWII.

[qimissung]

I believe it's A man's reach... as far as I recollect, and reminds me of my Grade 9 Geometry teacher, Mr. Saunders, who would raise his right arm high in the air and passionately declaim it.

Trouble is, he had lost the thumb on that hand, possibly in WWII.

:lol: