It's National Poetry Day

[whisperit]

Samuel Taylor Coleridge had a number of chronic illnesses which he managed with all sorts of medications, including, at last, copious amounts of laudanum. Here's his poem of 1790, "Pain: composed in sickness"

Once could the Morn’s first beams, the healthful breeze,

All Nature charm, and gay was every hour: —

But ah! not Music’s self, nor fragrant bower

Can glad the trembling sense of wan Disease.

Now that the frequent pangs my frame assail,

Now that my sleepless eyes are sunk and dim,

And seas of Pain seem waving through each limb —

Ah what can all Life’s gilded scenes avail?

I view the crowd, whom Youth and Health inspire,

Hear the loud laugh, and catch the sportive lay,

Then sigh and think — I too could laugh and play

And gaily sport it on the Muse’s lyre,

Ere Tyrant Pain had chas’d away delight,

Ere the wild pulse throbb’d anguish thro’ the night!

[Lupiknits]

Thanks Mike. I've been trying to come up with something not morbid that might be suitable for us, but have utterly failed x

[whisperit in reply to Lupiknits]

As did I! x

[Lupiknits in reply to whisperit]

😂

[eekt in reply to whisperit]

How about a little bit worldbeat with birdsong? Loop Guru (from Fr. "loup garou") and Plane Shift :

youtube.com/watch?v=-7y2EyQ...(Not working as expected?)

and there's always Hope:

youtube.com/watch?v=qiSt21P...(Not working as expected?)

xxx

[whisperit]

There's a great piece by Sarah Perry in last week's Guardian here theguardian.com/books/2018/...

[Lupiknits in reply to whisperit]

Thanks! An excellent article. I have her latest novel on pre order with audible. Can't wait now x

[whisperit in reply to Lupiknits]

Great, let me know what it's like x

[Lupiknits in reply to whisperit]

Will do. Apparently it's released 24 Oct. x

[DRunnerchick]

Thanks for that lovely verse! Illness, whether it's in 1790 or 2018 seems to stay consistent in its penchant for robbing us of sleep, vitality and giving an unending supply of pain! Now I could just figure out a way to make a $1 off it 😂

D🏃🏽‍♀️

[GloomyEeyore]

Thank you for posting this verse. I’ve written many poems over the years but none anywhere as good as this! Xx