It's National Poetry Day: Samuel Taylor Coleridge... - LUPUS UK

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It's National Poetry Day

whisperit profile image
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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!

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whisperit profile image
whisperit
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10 Replies
Lupiknits profile image
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 profile image
whisperit in reply to Lupiknits

As did I! x

Lupiknits profile image
Lupiknits in reply to whisperit

😂

eekt profile image
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...

and there's always Hope:

youtube.com/watch?v=qiSt21P...

xxx

whisperit profile image
whisperit

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

Lupiknits profile image
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 profile image
whisperit in reply to Lupiknits

Great, let me know what it's like x

Lupiknits profile image
Lupiknits in reply to whisperit

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

DRunnerchick profile image
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 profile image
GloomyEeyore

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

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