Monday, October 24, 2011

Monday's Poetry: "Robin Hood"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator


There are two major rogue political forces at work today in America.  One, the Teabaggers (aka the bad guys), is all about lowering taxes, especially on the rich, shaming the poor and oppressed, and trying to whiten society.  The other, the Occupiers, are hell bent on eating the rich or at least taxing them more, curbing the powers of big banks and corporations, and ensuring that everyone has the basic necessities that make life tolerable - such as safe food and water, adequate shelter, and access to education and health care.

Obviously my biases regarding these two groups are showing, but I don't really give a damn.

Today's poem, "Robin Hood," by John Keats, pays homage to the famous outlaw of Sherwood Forest and his merry band who became legendary for looking out for the little guy.  It is respectfully dedicated, by me, to the brave souls across America and the world who are camping out in parks, carrying placards, and refusing to be silent in the face of authoritarian repression.

You guys are Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, Little John, Will Scarlett, and Much the Miller's son - and you guys rock!  Stay strong, Occupiers!

Robin Hood
by John Keats


NO! those days are gone away,
And their hours are old and gray,
And their minutes buried all
Under the down-trodden pall
Of the leaves of many years:
Many times have winter's shears,
Frozen North, and chilling East,
Sounded tempests to the feast
Of the forest's whispering fleeces,
Since men knew nor rent nor leases.

No, the bugle sounds no more,
And the twanging bow no more;
Silent is the ivory shrill
Past the heath and up the hill;
There is no mid-forest laugh,
Where lone Echo gives the half
To some wight, amaz'd to hear
Jesting, deep in forest drear.

On the fairest time of June
You may go, with sun or moon,
Or the seven stars to light you,
Or the polar ray to right you;
But you never may behold
Little John, or Robin bold;
Never one, of all the clan,
Thrumming on an empty can
Some old hunting ditty, while
He doth his green way beguile
To fair hostess Merriment,
Down beside the pasture Trent;
For he left the merry tale,
Messenger for spicy ale.

Gone, the merry morris din;
Gone, the song of Gamelyn;
Gone, the tough-belted outlaw
Idling in the "grene shawe";
All are gone away and past!
And if Robin should be cast
Sudden from his turfed grave,
And if Marian should have
Once again her forest days,
She would weep, and he would craze:
He would swear, for all his oaks,
Fall'n beneath the dockyard strokes,
Have rotted on the briny seas;
She would weep that her wild bees
Sang not to her---strange! that honey
Can't be got without hard money!

So it is; yet let us sing
Honour to the old bow-string!
Honour to the bugle-horn!
Honour to the woods unshorn!
Honour to the Lincoln green!
Honour to the archer keen!
Honour to tight little John,
And the horse he rode upon!
Honour to bold Robin Hood,
Sleeping in the underwood!
Honour to maid Marian,
And to all the Sherwood clan!
Though their days have hurried by
Let us two a burden try. 

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