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Percy Shelley

Posted: 13 Sep 2019, 09:52
by BobBradshaw
Percy Shelley


Mary confessed to me
how in St. Pancras' cemetery--
her mother's grave a stone's throw away--
Percy pulled her down, moaning

and swearing a loyalty as steadfast
as the sky is to land and sea.

She was sixteen,
and afraid to ask, Had he pledged the same
to his pregnant wife, Harriet?

As they crossed the Channel,
what did Mary think of Percy's invitation
for me joining them? Was she too seasick
and in love to think clearly…

and she already with child,
though who knew at the time?

How many nights did Percy come home,
his hair saturated with a scent
reminiscent of mine
or some acquaintance’s?

Even as Mary lost two children--Clara
and William--within a year,
Percy was touching me
or someone else furtively.

How can I expect you, dear reader,
to sympathize with me?

Your heartthrob Byron
didn't give a rat's ass either
for my 18 year old heart
once I was pregnant...

Betrayed, haven't I too
spent mornings retching
as Percy returned home,
from god knows where, to Mary--

always Mary--his clothes
a meadow of perfumes?

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 13 Sep 2019, 12:44
by Kenneth2816
These people were the intellectual elite of their day, yet acted like schoolchildren. I like the period "dear reader"reference. Good work.

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 13 Sep 2019, 17:26
by meenas17
Nicely pictured the eccentricities of Shelley and Byron,
" a meadow of perfumes" illustrates their infirmities with a soft echo.

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 13 Sep 2019, 20:00
by BobBradshaw
Ken, Meenas — thank you for your comments

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 15 Sep 2019, 03:21
by Michael (MV)
Hi Bob,

Is the speaker Claire Clairmont


Thx

Michael (MV)

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 15 Sep 2019, 04:22
by BobBradshaw
Yep

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 15 Sep 2019, 05:23
by Michael (MV)
Thx, Bob,

Then perhaps "Percy Shelley" isn't the title needed for this poem.

Workshop-consider Claire Clairmont for the title of this persona-poem.


😎

Michael (MV)

BobBradshaw wrote:
15 Sep 2019, 04:22
Yep

Re: Percy Shelley

Posted: 17 Sep 2019, 08:58
by BobBradshaw
Thx, Michael....originally the poem was titled after her...I might reconsider it...