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An Epode of Sorts

Through timelines immemorial
mankind has written poems.
With wordsmith nigh celestial
he filled nigh endless tomes.

Who wrote the first to poesy shape?
When did he recognize
the panacea’s posed escape
from all he did despise?

His epode came before his prose.
He beat the drums aloud.
Heartfelt the elegist knew throes
of joy and pain enshroud.

‘Longside the painter in the cave
the poet sang his song.
He sang of gods and heroes brave
and what he thought was wrong.

And time would pass, though timeless he.
The balladmonger breathes.
An ending he shall never see.
His verses set the masses free.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Last few words: 
Epode, in verse, is the third part of an ode, which followed the strophe and the antistrophe, and completed the movement. This is not a strict epode which is why i say "of sorts".
Editing stage: 

Comments

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W. H. Snow

A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. Percy Bysshe Shelley

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author comment

Just because it's not been commented on doesn't mean it hasn't been read. Now you can enlighten me, what the heck is an "epode"? That 4th stanza is excellent and could pretty well stand on its own.............stan

I think the fourth stanza is superb. Like poetry was when it started, back in the caveman days. LOL
~ Gee.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

for something to say other than being amazed as usual:)
To be totally honest, I don't like the 2nd stanza, but don't ask me why. I am afraid it's so wordy for my taste. Sorry, you have asked for the raw truth, haven't you, sir?

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

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There are too many discrepancies for me with this poem, Cave painting are 30,000 years old, the oldest written poem is 4,000 years ago. The oldest song is 1400 BC is Syria. Lullabies may date back bit, but certainly no poets were singing odes to the gods with the cave painters, and not from time immemorial. i think that's more than 20,000 years off. I like the word "bardmonger" , but I do not see him in the position of Marx, and setting the masses free,
I can certainly understand the idea of the poem. But this poem feels historically inaccurate, and it doesn't reach down and express the inexpressible in words, which is what the bard does.

(Excuse the honesty. But I think you appreciate that, as I have praised so much of your other works...)

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

The poem was never meant to be historically accurate. It is more of an image. The cave painter and his companion singing unintelligible gibberish that may or may not translate into song.
Personally, I think singing began long before we left the trees (so to speak). Monkeys sing in a sense. The voice was likely an instrument long before we think it was even if what it produced could not be construed as "song".
Listen to a Lemur sing.
I have and it is haunting.
Never shy from giving me your all.

W. H. Snow

A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. Percy Bysshe Shelley

Learn how, teach others.
The NeoPoet Mentor Program
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author comment

poetry, i don't think so.
I've been paying strong attention to all this new science of Music and the Brain. I just finished the 18 CD's of lectures from Great Courses.com...wow, a lot of info about song and birds and mammals. as they study the neurological patterns in the brain and all that. Alot of studies of pitch, melody and drum rhythm with monkeys, elephants, you name it. Monkeys are not as advanced as other species. It seems unique to us, now 300,000 years old. We just gained another 100,000 years last week with a new discovery in Morroco. 100,000 years! and look at this fucking mess we're in!
Poetry, BTW, is now known to produce extremely close neural response as music all over the brain.
Not surprised!

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

Are they cool or what?

W. H. Snow

A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. Percy Bysshe Shelley

Learn how, teach others.
The NeoPoet Mentor Program
http://www.neopoet.com/mentor/about

author comment

reminded me of the old days of reading
real poetry would haul home in the late seventies
affordable poetry books
even managed to read Milton
and enjoy him!
an honesty in this work
that i like

thank U

w

It always does my heart good when you like one of my ditties no matter how simple or trite.

W. H. Snow

A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. Percy Bysshe Shelley

Learn how, teach others.
The NeoPoet Mentor Program
http://www.neopoet.com/mentor/about

author comment
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