Poetic Sensibility

13- The Wide World

Once again, the dialogues are italicized and the poetry is in bold. Also, to fully enjoy this update, do NOT skim through it. Do read every single word; especially the poetry. Happy Reading!

        The second Samay entered Sarah's dining hall, his breath came out with a whoosh. His usual seat was unoccupied. No Keshav today. As much as Samay had enjoyed his cocky poem for the poor girl he had turned down, he was glad to be rid of his presence. Somehow, he seemed to make the entire session about him. The minute he'd walk in, all eyes would be drawn to him. Sitting down with a rather cheery smile on his face, he looked at Romi. His good mood achieved new heights because the minute he saw her, he knew that she had something planned for today's session. He knew he was right when, after everyone had taken their seats, Romi began distributing papers to everyone.

"Since we discussed the Romantic Poets the last time," she said, surreptitiously looking at Sarah, "I thought we might read a poem by one of the Romantics today. He's among my favorites, in fact."

        Samay turned to the sheet in his hand and could not believe the amazing manner in which his day was unfolding. They were going to analyze one of John Keats' poems. He had read Keats before and quite enjoyed his work

"But," Romi interrupted his thoughts, "We will be reading it the way a Romantic poem must be read. And it's customary to not worry as I will guide you through it." She began reading the poem, as she always did, in the verse form and in couplets.

"When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain"

        She turned to look at Sarah. He could see her brow crease in concentration as she tried to make sense of the words. He wondered what the words meant to him. Keats does not fear his end. He fears that when the end will come, he won't be finished penning everything that he wants to. His life's work would be incomplete and therefore, worthless.

After about a minutes worth of deliberation, Sarah finally spoke, "I suppose he says that he fears his life will end before he has the chance to pen down everything his brain computes. And being a poet, I assume he wants to pen down all the poetry that is bursting in him. Also, one thing that I noticed is that he fears that his poetry will be incomplete. He is not afraid of death. It just goes on to show how, in the true spirit of a Romantic, poetry is more dear to him than life itself."

        Samay was impressed. He had not spotted that immediately. However, he was sure it was something Romi had not missed. He just had a feeling that she could see everything that was important. And poetry, to Keats, was. Suddenly, Samay saw a look of dejection on Romi's face.

"Not-so-fun fact," Romi added, "John Keats died at the very young age of 25. Also, his poems were deemed completely worthless so he died believing he was a failure."

        Wow. Keats was pretty big now. It was sad that he had died not knowing this. He felt that Romi was more affected than she let on. She then continued reading the next two lines.

"Before high-piled books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain"

        This time she turned to look at Rishi. Samay was glad she hadn't asked him to analyze this couplet. He was at a complete loss as to what these lines meant. It seemed as if he wasn't the only one. Rishi took one look at the lines and then shrugged his shoulders. Romi, however, refused to let him give up.

"Okay, do it this way. What are the 2 most important words in the first line?" she asked Rishi

"Books and charactery," Rishi replied, easily.