Poetry Takeaways

After a month of doing poetry, here's my big three takeaways.

1. Sturgeon's Law is really pronounced for poetry. Most poetry (same as most prose) is bad. The problem is, bad poetry is obnoxious in a way that's hard (and sometimes unintentionally funny) for bad fiction.

2. Most of the things that make fiction good also apply to poetry. Faust is fun, because it has dramatic characters. Whitman is good, because he has a sense of adventure. THE NIGHTINGALE VS THE LARK VS FLOWERS XXX 9001 is bad, because it's not actually about anything interesting and it's been done a million times.

3. Meter and rhyme are bullshit. Both in that they sometimes force weird lines that would be better without, and because people ignore them. A lot. Good for them, they should.

That's some kind of life lesson by the way. Ignore the rules/customs when it makes doing the thing they're supposed to do harder.

 So, in the end, fan of good poetry, hater of bad poetry, and there's a lot of bad poetry.

I assume they'll be a more formal reflection at some point as part of the challenge. 

A to Z 2026 Poetry Z: Zeno of Citium’s epitath by Zenodotus

Z: Zeno of Citium’s epitath by Zenodotus  

Bonus: 

Time for Zed 

Summary: Zeno died, but don't be sad.

Commentary:

Not technically in the 5FSOB, but given the amount of Stoicism included, I think a tribute to Zeno (the original Stoic), by another Stoic whose name also beings with Z, is a pretty clean include.

"hoary brow serene" is a heck of a thing to be remembered for. It's a shame that, while, "Who gave to Greece her written books of wisdom." they mostly weren't preserved.

I also like the use of "contentment". Stoicism isn't just "not being mad about stuff" it's about being happy regardless of what's going on, because you focus on the important stuff.  

A to Z 2026 Poetry Y: “Ye Mariners of England” by Thomas Campbell (~1800)

Y: “Ye Mariners of England” by Thomas Campbell (~1800)

Bonus: 

 

Don't you hate when someone wrote a better version of your poem a couple decades earlier?

Summary: WOODEN SHIPS AND IRON MEN!

Commentary: "Hearts of Oak" did it better.  

A to Z 2026 Poetry X: “XXIII” from The Psalms (American Standard Version, 1901)

“XXIII” from The Psalms (American Standard Version, 1901)

Bonus: 

 

Hank Hill was right.

 

 

Summary: The Lord Jehovah is my shepherd.

Commentary:  The American Standard Version is mostly just the KJV with "The Lord" swapped for Jehovah. 

Also, shepherds take care of sheep (partially) so they can kill and eat them. Why do you want a god to be your shepherd? Wouldn't you prefer to remain uneaten?

I am pleased with how little I had to cheat for X this year. 

A to Z 2026 W: “What Think You I Take My Pen in Hand?” by Walt Whitman (1860)

 A to Z 2026 W: “What Think You I Take My Pen in Hand?” by Walt Whitman (1860)

Bonus: https://www.facebook.com/100064035043542/videos/celebrity-jeopardy-calista-flockhart-nicolas-cage-sean-connery-snl/338122197445248/

WHY IS THIS NOT ON YOUTUBE 

Summary: It's short, I'm just gonna paste the whole thing here:

What think you I take my pen in hand to record?

The battle-ship, perfect-model'd, majestic, that I saw pass the

offing to-day under full sail?

The splendors of the past day? or the splendor of the night that

envelops me?

Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me? --no;

But merely of two simple men I saw to-day on the pier in the midst

of the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends,

The one to remain hung on the other's neck and passionately kiss'd him,

While the one to depart tightly prest the one to remain in his arms.

 Commentary:  

This seemed appropriate for this blog. 

"They were friends."

 

A to Z 2026 Poetry V: “Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field one Night” by Walt Whitman (1865)

V: “Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field one Night” by Walt Whitman (1865) 

Bonus: 

Get 'em, Casey

Summary: Keeping vigil over your dead son.

Commentary: 

"One look I but gave which your dear eyes return’d with a look I shall never forget," is a great line.

  

A to Z 2026 T: “Tell me, Muse…” Various translation of the opening of the Odyssey

T: “Tell me, Muse…” Various translation of the opening of the Odyssey

Bonus: 

Shaft!

Summary: I'm talkin' 'bout a wanderin' man.

Commentary: 

Something a little different today. "Tell me, Muse" is under the index for T, but I thought it'd be fun to look at some other translations.

The Butcher/Lang translation is the one in T5FSOB, and and has largely been superseded.

Fitzgerald and Fagles are broadly respected as readable, but accurate, Lattimore as the most faithful, and Wilson as the hip new choice.

 I did all of Fitzgerald translation two summers ago on the blog, and I enjoyed it. Looking at them side-by-side, there is a unique (which always makes me think mistranslated) element in "Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story" bold not appearing in other translations. I can see how it works in the singer/storyteller sense.

Lattimore feels a little stilted to me. I believe he's mimicking the Greek here, but it's not clicking for me. I might get into it if I read another 20 pages.

Fagles is rocking some fun repetition/alliteration: 

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns
 driven time and again off course, once he had plundered
 the hallowed heights of Troy. 

Wilson is sticking out to me with calling Troy a "town." I like the break after the first line: Tell me about a complicated man.

It's a nice direct intro. 

A to Z 2026 S: "Symmetrical and square in shape…” Buddhist Writings (Translated by Henry Clarke Warren, 1896)

"Symmetrical and square in shape…” Buddhist Writings (Translated by Henry Clarke Warren, 1896)

Bonus: 

 

Hell is a square-ring.      

Summary: Hell is a scary square.

Commentary: 

Another short one, so here's a full drop:

  Symmetrical, and square in shape,
Four-gated, into parts laid off.
Of iron is its bounding wall,
An iron roof doth close it in;
And of its glowing iron floor
The light with dazzling brilliancy
Spreads for a hundred leagues around,
And ever and for ay abides.

This is, "the chiefest of the hells"

Four appears a number of time in Buddhism (the four noble truths, the four sublime attitudes...). In many east Asian cultures, four is associated with death, due it being a near homophone of "death" (si and sei). It would make sense to make hell square in this context. 

A to Z 2026 Poetry R: “Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain” The Bhagavad Gits (Translated by Sir Arnold Edwin, 1885)

“Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain” The Bhagavad Gits (Translated by Sir Arnold Edwin, 1885) 

Bonus: 

 

Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain... 

Summary: On a plain that is sacred, they're ranged for battle.

Commentary:

Full text:

DHRITIRASHTRA: RANGED thus for battle on the sacred plain—
On Kurukshetra—say, Sanjaya! say
What wrought my people, and the Pandavas?

As a lit critic, I have concerns about four proper nouns in the first four  lines.

On the other hand, I'm a big fan of the epic poetry tradition of opening with an active call for the story/dialogue. I like knowing where the story is coming from (I'll watch any trash if you change it to found footage). It makes it feel more believable, and helps you to understand the world. More on this tomorrow, actually. 

A to Z 2026 Poetry Q: “Queen and Huntress Chaste and Fair” (From Cynthia's Revels by Ben Johnson, 1600)

A to Z 2026 Poetry Q: “Queen and Huntress Chaste and Fair” (From Cynthia's Revels by Ben Johnson, 1600) 

Bonus: 

Official Poem of Night Elf Mohawks! 

Summary: Diana comes out when the sun is down. 

Commentary:  Other than being a great choice for your Night Elf WoW character...

7 feet, 6 lines, ABABCC

It's fine? I wonder what the context within the larger play is. Otherwise, I think this is an interesting poem if you're into the theme, pretty skippable if not. 

A to Z 2026 P: “Poets, like Disputants…” by John Dryden (from All for Love, 1677)

 P: “Poets, like Disputants…” by John Dryden (from All for Love, 1677)

 Bonus: 

No one would call these poets fops.

Summary: Poets get mad if you don't like their poems. Authors think they're all hat and no cattle.

Commentary: AA... rhyme scheme. 10 feet per line.

 Since the goal this month is for me (a prose writer) to better appreciate poetry, this one seemed appropriate. It's not really doing much for me. Functional, but nothing really jumps out. I like: "Fop, Coxcomb, Fool, are thunder’d through the Pit," but nothing here is blowing me away with imagery, or profundity, or anything.

A to Z O: “O Captain! My Captain!” By Walt Whitman (1865)

“O Captain! My Captain!” By Walt Whitman (1865)

Bonus: 

Pretty sure I already used the Robin Williams one for this, so here's the first Youtube hit for "Captain".

Summary: Abe Lincoln died.

Commentary:  This was in the original 15MAD set two years ago, but I think it was sandwiched with a few others. For today, just the famous poem by itself.

Syllable count is all over the place, but there is a fixed rhyme scheme: AABBCDEC

I think the thing that stands out about this poem the most is the historical context. It's cool to have this first hand artistic account of a famous historical event. I don't want to say there aren't any about more modern events like 9/11, the fall of the Berlin Wall, etc., but this is certainly the most famous. I'd argue they're valuable as a window into how people felt at/about the time.

Second, the face that there was a famous poet who cared enough about the president to write a popular poem about his death. No one would bother for Biden. Trump might get some, but they'll probably fade. Maybe Obama could've gotten one. Probably not Bush. 

4/5, I hate slant rhymes. 

A to Z 2026: N: “Nuns Fret Not…” by William Wordsworth

 A to Z 2026: N: “Nuns Fret Not…” by William Wordsworth

Bonus: 

Studio C is my guilty pleasure

Summary: Sometimes it's nice to just sit in your room.  

Commentary:

1. This is a sonnet.

2. It has the word "sonnet" in it!

    "Within the Sonnet’s scanty plot of ground;"  

3. I agree that it's nice to have a small room to sit in. I've told my wife I would live in our shed if I could. I remember my dorm/first apartments, and it was kind of nice that all of "your" space was one room. Made it easier to keep things organized. 

A to Z 2026: M: “My peace is gone/ My heart is heavy” from Goethe’s Faust, translated by Richard Stokes (2005)

 M: “My peace is gone/ My heart is heavy” from Goethe’s Faust, translated by Richard Stokes (2005)

Bonus: 

Way to put Faust on a pedestal

Summary: Gretchen misses Faust.

Commentary:  There's not enough tragic love songs about being seduced by villains.

A to Z 2026: L: “Let us begin and carry up this corpse,” (A Grammarian’s Funeral) by Robert Browning (1855)

 L: “Let us begin and carry up this corpse,” (A Grammarian’s Funeral) by Robert Browning (1855)

Bonus: 

What if the grammarian just popped up and was alive?

Summary: He died as he lived, learning stuff.

Commentary: Tonight, I learned two new words:

Crofts=farm

Thorpes=small village.

I think there are some Thorpes near me, now that I think about it...

A to Z 2026: "Katherina say..." from Goethe's Faust (1790)

 A to Z 2026: "Katherina say..." from Goethe's Faust (1790)

Bonus: 

-or-

Summary: The devil to sing a sexy song to help the guy whose soul he bought get laid.

Commentary: Another short one, let's just have the whole thing:

Kathrina say,

Why lingering stay

At dawn of day

Before your lover's door?

Maiden, beware,

Nor enter there,

Lest forth you fare,

A maiden never more.

 

Maiden take heed!

Reck well my rede!

Is't done, the deed?

Good night, you poor, poor thing!

The spoiler's lies, His arts despise,

Nor yield your prize,

Without the marriage ring!

(The previous line indicates that this is Mephistopheles singing while he plays guitar. I fucking love Faust.)  

This is basically just the original Futurama finale.

"Reck well my rede!" is a fantastic line.

A to Z 2026 J: “Jamie, come try me” by Robert Burns (1791?)

 “Jamie, come try me” by Robert Burns (1791?)

Bonus: 

The poem!

Summary: COME AT ME, BRO! (But with kisses.)

Commentary: Uhoh, drunkish blogging. This is a fun one. And very readable for Burns.

6/5 feet per line. Most of them rhyme we "E" except the loves.

So much BURNS! The other options were mostly Jehova...

3/5

A to Z 2026: I: “I put my hat…” by Samuel Johnson

“I put my hat…” by Samuel Johnson

 Bonus: 

It's an older meme, sir, but it checks out.

Summary: He puts on a hat.

Commentary: It's so short, I'll just paste the whole thing in:

I put my hat upon my head

And walked into the Strand,

And there I met another man

Whose hat was in his hand.

Are we supposed to slant rhyme head with man? Man with hand? I dunno. 8, 7, 8, 6? 8, 6, 8, 6 if you pronounced "walked" right.

Weird little poem. 2/5

A to Z 2026: H is for History? (Three poems)

 H is for Historic

Bonus: 

This was a weird campaign.

Summary: I was feeling indecisive and so we're doing three poems today. 

Commentary:

1. "Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Tennyson (1854)

Speaking of famous historical things...

There is, apparently, not a Sabaton song for this yet, which is surprising.

6ish (bounces with 5 and 7, unless we're doing some creative slurring) feet per line. Inconsistent rhyme scheme (usually 2 or 3 in the middle of a stanza).

Always go half a league more. Half is a good amount. A whole league is too much, but just a half a step further than people expect is usually manageable, practical, and impressive.

Tonight's "classics phrase" is: "Theirs not to reason why,/Theirs but to do and die."

4/5 pretty good poem.

2. "Ode on Solitude" by Alexander Pope (~1700)

8 feet, except the final line of each stanza (4). ABAB (with some aggressive slanting.

My only real comment on this one (pretty short) is how it's interesting that this dream is still widespread over 300 years later (and had been for over 1000 years before that). Man just wants a little farm and to farm and study. 3/5

3. "Hard Nuts" by John Bunyan (1678)

A poem about reading hard stuff! That's what this blog is about! 11 feet, AAAA scheme.

It's fine. I'd skip it if it wasn't thematic. 2/5

A to Z 2026: “Get up, get up for shame” by Robert Herrick (~1616)

 A to Z 2026: “Get up, get up for shame” by Robert Herrick (~1616)

Bonus: 

Not quite the same, but fun.

Summary: MOVE YOUR BUTT!

Commentary:

Not quite May yet, but we're about two weeks into spring. Always good to have a reminder to get up and do something. (That was a large percentage of the choices. "Gather ye rosebuds..." was also an option.)

10 feet, AABBCCDDEEFFGG. I think that's a sonnet?

I like the first verse the best. Some nice imagery or whatever, but the first one does well enough for the imagery and also gets the message across. "Above an hour since, yet you not drest;/Nay! not so much as out of bed?" Get off your phone and do stuff! 4/5