loader from loading.io

S17E1: "On the Jubilee of Queen Victoria" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Well Read Poem

Release Date: 09/02/2024

S19E5: S19E5: "The Twa Corbies" Anonymous Scottish

The Well Read Poem

In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "The Twa Corbies" of anonymous Scottish origin. Readings begin at timestamps 4:25 and 8:45. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit . The Twa...

info_outline
S19E4: S19E4: "Ecclesiastes 12" from the King James Version

The Well Read Poem

In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Ecclesiates 12" from the King James Version of the Bible. Readings begin at timestamps 5:08 and 8:55. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit ....

info_outline
S19E3: S19E3: "Elegies 11.28" by Propertius (Translated by Constance Carrier)

The Well Read Poem

In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Elegies 11.28" by Propertius (Translated by Constance Carrier). Readings begin at timestamps 4:34 and 6:54. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks,...

info_outline
S19E2: S19E2: "On a Dead Child" by Robert Bridges

The Well Read Poem

In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "On a Dead Child" by Robert Bridges. Reading begins at timestamp 4:24. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit . On a Dead Child By Robert...

info_outline
S19E1: S19E1: "Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke" by William Browne

The Well Read Poem

In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected will be that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke" by William Browne. Readings begin at timestamps 9:35 and  12:15. To learn more about this podcast...

info_outline
S18E6: S18E6: "A Prayer for My Daughter" by William Butler Yeats

The Well Read Poem

Welcome back to Season 18 of the Well Read Poem. During this season, we are offering our listeners six poems about family life. The poems selected for this season are quite various in style and manner, and have been chosen for the light they shed on relationships between parents and children, between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. We hope that these readings will, in their small way, add a measure of comfort and happiness to the lives of our audience during these winter months. Today's poem is "A Prayer for My Daughter" by William Butler Yeats. Poem reading begins at timestamp 5:25....

info_outline
S18E5: S18E5: "To My Brothers" by John Keats

The Well Read Poem

Welcome back to Season 18 of the Well Read Poem. During this season, we are offering our listeners six poems about family life. The poems selected for this season are quite various in style and manner, and have been chosen for the light they shed on relationships between parents and children, between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. We hope that these readings will, in their small way, add a measure of comfort and happiness to the lives of our audience during these winter months. Today's poem is "To My Brothers" by John Keats. Poem reading begins at timestamp 7:36. To My Brothers by...

info_outline
S18E4: S18E4: "Satire 6, Book 1" by Horace (trans. by John Conington)

The Well Read Poem

Welcome back to Season 18 of the Well Read Poem. During this season, we are offering our listeners six poems about family life. The poems selected for this season are quite various in style and manner, and have been chosen for the light they shed on relationships between parents and children, between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. We hope that these readings will, in their small way, add a measure of comfort and happiness to the lives of our audience during these winter months. Today's poem is "Satire 6, Book 1" by Horace translated by John Conington. Poem reading begins at...

info_outline
S18E3: S18E3: "To My Mother" by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Well Read Poem

Welcome back to Season 18 of the Well Read Poem. During this season, we are offering our listeners six poems about family life. The poems selected for this season are quite various in style and manner, and have been chosen for the light they shed on relationships between parents and children, between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. We hope that these readings will, in their small way, add a measure of comfort and happiness to the lives of our audience during these winter months. Today's poem is "To My Mother" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Poem reading begins at timestamp 5:17. To My...

info_outline
S18E2: S18E2: "Forefathers" by Edmund Blunden

The Well Read Poem

Welcome back to Season 18 of the Well Read Poem. During this season, we are offering our listeners six poems about family life. The poems selected for this season are quite various in style and manner, and have been chosen for the light they shed on relationships between parents and children, between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. We hope that these readings will, in their small way, add a measure of comfort and happiness to the lives of our audience during these winter months. Today's poem is "Forefathers" by Edmund Blunden. Poem reading begins at timestamp . Forefathers by Edmund...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Welcome back to Season 17 of the Well Read Poem! This season's theme is "When Homer Nods: Bad Poetry by Good Poets." Until this season, our readings on The Well Read Poem have nearly all been drawn from the well of the great, or at least the good, waters of poetry, which would of course take a lifetime and more to exhaust. And so it has been deemed appropriate at summer's close, as we return to school and the daily round, that we should partake slightly of a few select vintages of bad poetry by otherwise accomplished poets for the sake of variety and the amusement of all.

Today's selection is "On the Jubilee of Queen Victoria" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Poem reading begins at timestamp 7:47. 

To learn more about Thomas Banks, visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com, and to listen to our flagship podcast, head to TheLiterary.Life. You can also find free downloadable, printable files with all the poems read on the podcast on our Well Read Poem webpage.

On the Jubilee of Queen Victoria

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

                        I.

      Fifty times the rose has flower'd and faded,
      Fifty times the golden harvest fallen,
      Since our Queen assumed the globe, the sceptre.

                        II.

            She beloved for a kindliness
            Rare in fable or history,
            Queen, and Empress of India,
            Crown'd so long with a diadem
            Never worn by a worthier,
            Now with prosperous auguries
            Comes at last to the bounteous
            Crowning year of her Jubilee.

                        III.

      Nothing of the lawless, of the despot,
      Nothing of the vulgar, or vainglorious,
      All is gracious, gentle, great and queenly.

                        IV.

            You then joyfully, all of you,
            Set the mountain aflame to-night,
            Shoot your stars to the firmament,
            Deck your houses, illuminate
            All your towns for a festival,
            And in each let a multitude
            Loyal, each, to the heart of it,
            One full voice of allegiance,
            Hail the fair Ceremonial
            Of this year of her Jubilee.

                        V.

      Queen, as true to womanhood as Queenhood,
      Glorying in the glories of her people,
      Sorrowing with the sorrows of the lowest!

                        VI.

            You, that wanton in affluence,
            Spare not now to be bountiful,
            Call your poor to regale with you,
            All the lowly, the destitute,
            Make their neighborhood healthfuller,
            Give your gold to the hospital,
            Let the weary be comforted,
            Let the needy be banqueted,
            Let the maim'd in his heart rejoice
            At this glad Ceremonial,
            And this year of her Jubilee.

                        VII.

      Henry's fifty years are all in shadow,
      Gray with distance Edward's fifty summers,
      Even her Grandsire's fifty half forgotten.

                        VIII.

            You, the Patriot Architect,
            You that shape for eternity,
            Raise a stately memorial,
            Make it regally gorgeous,
            Some Imperial Institute,
            Rich in symbol, in ornament,
            Which may speak to the centuries,
            All the centuries after us,
            Of this great Ceremonial,
            And this year of her Jubilee.

                        IX.

      Fifty years of ever-broadening Commerce!
      Fifty years of ever-brightening Science!
      Fifty years of ever-widening Empire!

                        X.

            You, the Mighty, the Fortunate,
            You, the Lord-territorial,
            You, the Lord-manufacturer,
            You, the hardy, laborious,
            Patient children of Albion,
            You, Canadian, Indian,
            Australasian, African,
            All your hearts be in harmony,
            All your voices in unison.
            Singing, 'Hail to the glorious
            Golden year of her Jubilee!'

                        XI.

      Are there thunders moaning in the distance?
      Are there spectres moving in the darkness?
      Trust the Hand of Light will lead her people,
      Till the thunders pass, the spectres vanish,
      And the Light is Victor, and the darkness
      Dawns into the Jubilee of the Ages.