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Bonitaj
Bonitaj
Jan 12, 2010 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

STIFLED JOY

"Had we but world enough
and time*
there would be means
to murder and create
this dearth of dreams,
to maul and manipulate
these longings -
this insatiable hunger
from which we recoil,
yet gratuitously gravitate...
 
and all the while
Big Ben turns
hands on a circumference
to mark circumstance
from which we choose -
oblivion.
We marvel begrudgingly,
beleaguered by fate -
too little, too seldom
too late..."
 
BjR 12 January, '09
 
*To His Coy Mistress - Andrew Marvell
— Bonitaj, Jan 12, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Tip of Southern Africa, ZAF

Favorite Poets: Too many to narrow down, but briefly :, AUDEN, T.S. ELIOT, DICKENSON, RILKE, THOREAU, RUMI ... the list is endless. Am inspired by many, especially those that live lives of "quiet desperation, and go to the grave with a song still in them" (THoreau)

More from this author

Critiques

L

Lonnie

16 years 4 months ago

Benignly brilliant!

fantastically carved out of pure effervescence! The stuff that Real poetry is made of! Superbly crafted and a joy to read!
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Lonnie!

So long since you stopped by - really glad to see you and that I've made a good impression;) Thanks Bonita j
O

Orphani

16 years 4 months ago

Andrew Marvell (31 March

Andrew Marvell (31 March 1621 – 16 August 1678) was an English metaphysical poet, Parliamentarian, and the son of a Church of England clergyman (also named Andrew Marvell). As a metaphysical poet, he is associated with John Donne and George Herbert. He was a colleague and friend of John. Wikapedia This is simply a beautifly sublime work. Possibly your best.B
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

THanks O!

For your generous comment! Must say - I quite fansied this one myself as it came after a rather fractitious night of insomnia!! Cheers Bonita j ps. Thanks too for the history around Andrew Marvell - I doubt that many would've known he was one of the Metaphysical poets!!
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

ps.

another typo/ehem! make that spelling error - make that FRACTIOUS refractory or unruly: > a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness.(smiled at this! Visions of self mutilation or tied to the bedpost and unable to sleep! :) >readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome: an incorrigibly fractious young person. Thanks for the indulgence! Boni
L

Lunegirl

16 years 4 months ago

What a clever poem, the

What a clever poem, the comments by barry and the added knowlegde that you had been suffering from insomnina add's to the poem even more. Great write vicki ; )
Seren

Seren

16 years 4 months ago

Dear Boni

Brilliant poem ... congratulations on spotlight love and hugs Jayne-Chloe
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Thanks Jayne!

Sometimes I feel like a smallish plant in the Amazon - stiving just to get some sunlight and peer through the dense undergrowth, much of which is covered by your work! ;) lol Cheers Boni
O

Orphani

16 years 4 months ago

I got news for you Bon

I got news for you Bon; you're a storks nest atop a giant sequoia.Keep balancing. B Boni ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************BONI IS PUSSSHY but sweet.B
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Sorry Jayne!

Trying to edit the above to say STRIVING...but I guess that's the message from the universe for me! i.e. Keep trying ;)
seabhac

seabhac

16 years 4 months ago

Well I made the trip through the undergrowth

Yes I wasn't wrong, the first time I thought I was just hungry...this is a delicious poem that tickles the word buds on my tongue and feeds a depth in my belly that many poems just can't reach...sounds like an advert for Neo ha ha. My very favourite and I will relate to it for some time is We marvel begrudgingly, beleaguered by fate - too little, too seldom too late…” Seabhac
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Oh Seabhac!

You do wax lyrical sometimes - and I am indeed glad, that it was I who inspired you to do so! :) THanks again Boni
ID

Ink Dragon

16 years 4 months ago

Dear Boni,

this one is a winner! Good flow, solid imagery, and, like Seabhac, I love the end. Yours, ~Nina
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Excellent!

That I got your stamp of approval that is ;) THanks Nina! BjR
H

hawk2424

16 years 4 months ago

A JOY BONI!

My first posting here but I must say, there are artistic ripples there for sure...a big stone fell in that water!
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

What a refreshing comment!

Welcome, welcome to Neopoet! Looking forward to reading more details about you on your profile as well as reading your work! Thanks so much Bonita j