Friday, June 06, 2008

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods" by George Gordon, Lord Byron

Byron is well-known for satirical work like Don Juan (wherein he rhymed "Juan" with "new one"), but I admire his quiet, passionate poetry just as much. "There is a pleasure..." is an excerpt from a long, partly autobiographical poem entitled Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.

The poem is a Spenserian stanza (named for its inventor Edmund Spenser), and Byron manages the form brilliantly. It features an internal rhyming couplet--which he makes sing--and the final line has an extra beat which helps emphasize the ending.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.



One of the great poets of the British Romantic Period, Lord Byron was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1788. With the publication of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, he became quite famous. He lived passionately (and scandalously) until his death in 1824.

12 Comments:

Blogger jesse said...

God that was good. Thank you so much for sharing!

2:25 AM  
Blogger Anna said...

OMG I love Lord Byron. He wrote my favorite poem, "She Walks in Beauty Like the Night." The peom you posted is wonderful too. Thanks for featuring him. You have wonderful taste in poets.

12:48 PM  
Blogger Cami said...

Totally without flaw.
I love Lord Byron (but hey, who didn't!)

12:17 AM  
Blogger The Hierophant said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:34 AM  
Blogger The Hierophant said...

Lovely stuff. Great work here! Also, it's "named for its inventor, Edmund Spenser", not "it's". The poem before, Quarantine, was particularly touching.

8:35 AM  
Blogger Kikuri-hime said...

I love lord byron's poem.. esp. she walks in beauty.. thanx for sharing!

11:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

louis vuitton, christian louboutin outlet, ugg boots, prada outlet, longchamp outlet, kate spade outlet, nike free, nike air max, oakley sunglasses, ralph lauren pas cher, burberry, longchamp outlet, nike outlet, oakley sunglasses, michael kors, louis vuitton outlet, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin, louis vuitton, ugg boots, louboutin shoes, oakley sunglasses, replica watches, sac longchamp, louboutin outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, uggs on sale, cheap oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, replica watches, longchamp pas cher, ray ban sunglasses, tiffany and co, polo ralph lauren outlet, tiffany jewelry, longchamp, air jordan pas cher, tory burch outlet, jordan shoes, nike roshe run, gucci outlet, chanel handbags, air max, louboutin pas cher, prada handbags, nike air max, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses

8:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

north face, true religion jeans, tn pas cher, oakley pas cher, michael kors, coach outlet, ralph lauren uk, michael kors, vanessa bruno, hollister, nike air max, true religion outlet, hermes, michael kors, coach purses, kate spade handbags, michael kors, michael kors outlet, nike air max, nike blazer, true religion jeans, converse pas cher, replica handbags, michael kors outlet, hogan, ugg boots, coach outlet, air force, mulberry, michael kors outlet, true religion jeans, burberry outlet online, new balance pas cher, ugg boots, north face, ray ban pas cher, hollister pas cher, burberry, michael kors outlet, nike roshe, ray ban uk, nike free run uk, sac guess, michael kors outlet, lacoste pas cher, vans pas cher, timberland, nike air max, abercrombie and fitch, lululemon

8:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

babyliss, insanity workout, mac cosmetics, hollister, converse outlet, hollister, valentino shoes, giuseppe zanotti, louboutin, reebok shoes, nike roshe, beats by dre, gucci, new balance, bottega veneta, nike air max, longchamp, soccer jerseys, north face outlet, ghd, nike trainers, chi flat iron, celine handbags, asics running shoes, jimmy choo shoes, nike huarache, lululemon, nike air max, ferragamo shoes, vans, wedding dresses, birkin bag, mcm handbags, mont blanc, abercrombie and fitch, baseball bats, instyler, ray ban, converse, oakley, p90x workout, timberland boots, iphone cases, north face outlet, hollister, herve leger, soccer shoes, nfl jerseys, vans shoes, ralph lauren

8:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, supra shoes, barbour, pandora charms, montre pas cher, moncler, canada goose, canada goose outlet, lancel, louis vuitton, sac louis vuitton pas cher, moncler, pandora charms, swarovski crystal, wedding dresses, ugg boots uk, pandora jewelry, replica watches, moncler, canada goose uk, juicy couture outlet, coach outlet, links of london, canada goose, canada goose outlet, doudoune canada goose, canada goose, barbour jackets, bottes ugg, swarovski, moncler outlet, marc jacobs, moncler, louis vuitton, canada goose, hollister, toms shoes, moncler, ugg pas cher, moncler, karen millen, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, moncler, louis vuitton, juicy couture outlet, thomas sabo

8:28 PM  
Blogger chenlili said...

scarpe mbt
longchamp outlet
polo shirts
canada goose jackets
replica watches
stan smith shoes
michael kors outlet online
oakley sunglasses
adidas uk
the north face
201712.11chenjinyan

10:40 PM  
Blogger chenmeinv0 said...

christian louboutin
oakley vault
michael kors outlet online store
kate spade
celine
oakley sunglasses
uggs outlet
nike air max
converse
ray ban sunglasses
2018.1.15xukaimin

7:45 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home