poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

                         A Thurn
                         
Among them marble where the man may lie
lie chieftains grand in final phase, or pause,
'O rare Ben Jonson',
dictator too, & the thinky other Johnson,
dictator too, backhanders down of laws,
men of fears, weird & sly.

Not of these least is borne to rest.
If grandeur & mettle prompted his lone journey
neither oh crowded shelved 
nor this slab I celebrates attest
his complex slow fame forever (more or less).
I imagine the Abbey 

among their wonders will be glad of him
whom some are sorry for     his griefs across the world
grievously understated
and grateful for that bounty, for bright whims
of heavy mind across the tiresome world 
which the tiresome world debated, complicated.

Added: 5 Aug 2002 | Last Read: 28 Jun 2025 8:00 AM | Viewed: 4653 times

A PoetryNotes™ Analysis of Dream Song 126: A Thurn by John Berryman, is Available!

A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours.

ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95!

For more information...