Wilde Imagining

[Frank E Gibbard]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde

 

Old fashioned (rhyming couplets) but modern in tone I think yet all naturally a matter of opinion.

 

Wilde Imagining

 

Such a talent you had Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wilde,
you brightened a dull world yet ended in turn defiled.
English Law broke you a gay frail butterfly on a wheel
man love was criminal then Justice to us just so unreal.
A modern take in these enlightened times simply unfair
as you only paid a little attention to a London derrière.

You were subject to dubious morals of strict Victorian rule,
dared to deal with Lord Queensberry as if he were your fool.
Against legal advice you resort to libel based upon a basic lie,
always liable to be caught out in court, no need to query why.

In your "Ballad of Reading Gaol" rough experience is narrated
the free learn the terrible travail of poor souls incarcerated,
a beautiful simile of the small blue tent prisoners call the sky,
a wife killer awaiting the hanging rope who wistfuly walks by.

Oscar, you loved too well, celebrity deserved with good reason
leaving dullard lordly types unnerved as if that "sin" was treason,
not just the acts of love that dare not speak its name back then,
and those who could not wait like you did act not knowing when
better sense fairness would prevail, and men might marry men.

Queen Victoria denied women wanted inside another's knickers,
now ladies can be married to her wife maybe even by lady vicars.
"A Lesbian?!" snorted QV, imagine in style of OW's Lady Bracknell,
"But what can they possibly do to each other? Pray dear Sir do tell."
"Certain dastardly devices, I believe Maam," says Disraeli ... "ahem."
"What a lot of cock!" HM opined ... "or not strictly" whispered the PM.

[dcmarti1]

.....London derriere

 

.....dubious morals

 

.....by lady vicars

 

Loved it. But Lady Bracknell's quote here is my favorite, "Fortunately, in England at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever."

[dr_con]

Loverly Frank! And timely indeed with the Olympics and the Russian nostalgia for simpler brutality. And Wilde is a favorite- His Salome is simply divine and Russell's Movie 'Salome's Last Dance' has been a secret favorite for years.

 

Well done- Thoroughly enjoyed,

 

Juris

[Frank E Gibbard]

Thanks for the positive responses chaps marti & Doc.

[Benjamin]

Enjoyed the tone of this piece Frank. Wilde was much maligned and controversial in his day; yet at the same time had so much of relevance to say. My own personal favourite is the sonnet "Easter Day." G.