Poet of the Week

[P_R]

I have struggled to enjoy Shelley. Most of the Shelley (and Wordsworth) I learnt were in classrooms in middle school where we were given to understand that these folks were good for learning of the language. Much like : "eat the vegetables they are good for you" So these metaphysical wrestlings have never been my cup of tea. I always felt very distant from these poems.

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Beautiful line.

Bharathi was a famous Shelley fan. In Gnanarajasekaran's biopic Bharathi, there is a scene where the Raja of Ettaiyapuram is on his royal procession. All townfolk pay respect to the Raja as he passes his house. When Bharathi is asked by his anxious well-wisher to come down down and pay his respects to the King - who was also his employer - Bharathi refuses citing that the Shelley society is session. The soceity - consists of Bharathi and two other fellows who listen on as he recites Shelley.

The enraged Raja dismisses the arrogant Bharathi who adds insult to injury by thanking the king for dismissing him. He walks away reading aloud: "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"