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Denny Bradbury Books

Denny Bradbury Books

Monthly Archives: June 2016

John Dryden – nothing changes

23 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by dennybradburybooks in Denny's Diary, Poetry

≈ 2 Comments

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John Dryden, Political poetry, Referendum!, Vox populi - John Dryden

Trying to find comfort in an old poetry book for today as the decision about the EU is overwhelming the population and the media, I came across this by John Dryden. It is so apt and pertinent for today that I had to share it.

Vox Populi – John Dryden

He preaches to the crowd that power is lent,
But not conveyed, to kingly government;
That claims successive bear no bindings force;
That Coronation oaths are things of course;
Maintains the multitude can never err,
And sets the people in the papal chair.
The reason’s obvious: interest never lies;
The most have still the interest in their eyes;
The power is always theirs, and power is ever wise.
Almighty Crowd, thou shortenest all dispute;
Power is thy essence, Wit thy attribute!
Nor faith nor reason make thee at a stay,
Thou leapest o’er all eternal truths in thy Pindaric way!
Athens, no doubt, did righteously decide,
When Phocion and Socrates were tried:
As righteously they did those dooms repent;
Still they were wise, whatever way they went.
Crowds err not, though to both extremes they run;
To kill the father, and recall the Son.
Some think the fools were most as times went then,
But now the world’s o’er-stocked with prudent men.
The common cry is even religion’s test;
The Turk’s is, at Constantinople, best;
Idols in India, Popery at Rome;
And our own worship only true at home.
And true but for the time; tis hard to know
How long we please it shall continue so.
This side today, and that tomorrow burns;
So all are God-a’mighties in their turns.
A tempting doctrine, plausible and new;
What fools our fathers were, if this be true!

This was written in the 17th century – so apt for today.

Very best wishes – Denny Bradbury

Walter de la Mare and the sea

16 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by dennybradburybooks in Denny's Diary, Poetry

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Echoes by Walter de la Mare, Sea Poems, Walter de la Mare

As the sea moves endlessly, restlessly on so do the poems that try so hard to capture the essence of this mighty element. Here is one by Walter de la Mare:

Echoes

The sea laments
The livelong day,
Fringing its waste of sand;
Cries back the wind from the whispering shore-
No words I understand:
Yet echoes in my heart a voice,
As far, as near, as these-
The wind that weeps,
The solemn surge
Of strange and lonely seas.

Very best wishes – Denny Bradbury

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