Painting by Henry Wallis
Thomas Chatterton 1752 - 1770 was a genius poet that committed suicide at the age of 17.
Serge Gainsbourg dedicated this song to him.
He has been commemorated by the following poets
Shelley
Keats
Coleridge
Rossetti
Alfred de Vigny
Of no apparent worth or significant clout
A poet is a rarity, few of them about
Penning thoughts personal and profound
Snuffed out penniless in dark dark cloud
He is not considered of any real significance
Just a wastrel and vagabond of dubious magnificence
A low impact bloom amongst disapproving thorn'd frowns
Snuffed out penniless in dark dark cloud
He, belittled with slights by choosing this path
Suffers at contemptuous hands as an aftermath
Finds himself friendless, poverty street bound
Snuffed out penniless in dark dark cloud
Without much worth or significant clout
Snuffed out penniless in dark dark cloud
Form
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oh my..17 is way too early to go...have never heard of him...just love that so many famous poets commemorated him in their words..imagine what treasures he had left us if he had lived on...cool form as well...the repetition works well and thanks for pointing me his way..def. have to check out some of his works..
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a famous painting about his suicide? And didn't he also forge manuscripts (not that it diminishes his talent in any way)? Yes, it would have been interesting to see what motivated him.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes!
DeleteThe sonnet form does wonders for this poem, accenting his plight with a great repeated line ;)
ReplyDeleteWOnderful sonnet... and lovely form... tempting to try. And what a young poet... never heard about him... Great
ReplyDeleteSo sad to be so talented and to kill oneself at 17. As Claudia said, imagine what he would have written had he lived longer.....
ReplyDeletewow. way too early to go you know, but perhaps before he had th chance to follow his heart...and that was recognized among many...the repetition in this works really well and i like the rhymes within the repetition as well
ReplyDeleteSad story on such a short life--a story of talent not fully plumbed I suppose. Very nice execution of the form.
ReplyDeleteinteresting form. nice rhythm in your work.
ReplyDelete17 is way too young to go like that. :(
I wonder why he did it. Despair over having to claim others' work as his own in an effort to achieve what poets almost never do - acceptance in their own time. Love the song and will find it on ITunes, because even though I don't speak French, I love, love, love this song.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cressida. Is that your own form? Sorry to be naive about form, but I'm mostly free verse. Love to you and yours, Amy
Heartfelt and well written.
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