When I Read Shakespeare --
When I Read Shakespeare --
Original Text
D. H. Lawrence, Pansies: Poems (London: Martin Secker, 1929): 84. PR 6023 A93P3 1929 Robarts Library
1When I read Shakespeare I am struck with wonder
2that such trivial people should muse and thunder
3in such lovely language.
5didn't treat him rougher,
7And Hamlet, how boring, how boring to live with,
8so mean and self-conscious, blowing and snoring
9his wonderful speeches, full of other folks' whoring!
10And Macbeth and his Lady, who should have been choring,
11such suburban ambition, so messily goring
12old Duncan with daggers!
13How boring, how small Shakespeare's people are!
14Yet the language so lovely! like the dyes from gas-tar.
Notes
4] buffer: fellow, "dog" (OED, sb. 4). Back to Line
6] chough: crow (always cawing?).
chuffer: fake (OED). Back to Line
chuffer: fake (OED). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1929
Publication Notes
See Roberts A47
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2000.
Rhyme
Form