/lit/ - Literature

I downloaded the complete works of Robert Browning. Should I read The Ring and the Book first or should I save it for later? I've already read his most famous short poems.

>>16529528
I'd recommend reading through his entire works in chronological order

>>16529601
That would require reading his plays and Sordello first, and as those are all so often maligned I would prefer not to.

>>16529639
Sordello is a masterpiece, good anon.

>>16529700
But if it's as challenging as they say, wouldn't it make more sense to save it for after I have a solid understanding of his style?

>>16529715
mayhaps, but it's pretty far removed stylistically from his popular works

>>16529777
I see. I will take that into consideration.

>>16529505
I really appreciated that poem, anon. I don't feel qualified to criticize it, but suffice to say I googled it with some degree of certainty I'd get a hit relating it back to some established poet.

>>16529505
Is this poem supposed to be in iambic pentameter? Because if so, the second, fifth, and eighth lines have kind of janky meter.

>>16529888
thanks anon, I really appreciate this. going through some shit and poetry and music are my only outs
>>16529910
it's loosely in iambic pentameter but I added variations where they seemed to fit. I really didn't like the fifth line and I still don't, one syllable short and it ends on a feminine. I'll probably replace it whenever I get around to finishing the poem

Ravioli,
Ravioli,
I wanna fug a qt loli

I know I am but summer to your heart,
And not the full four seasons of the year;
And you must welcome from another part
Such noble moods as are not mine, my dear.
No gracious weight of golden fruits to sell
Have I, nor any wise and wintry thing;
And I have loved you all too long and well
To carry still the high sweet breast of spring.

Wherefore I say: O love, as summer goes,
I must be gone, steal forth with silent drums,
That you may hail anew the bird and rose
When I come back to you, as summer comes.
Else will you seek, at some not distant time,
Even your summer in another clime.

-Edna St. Vincent Millay

>>16529505
>>16529910
Yeah I found the first line set up the exception that it was going to be straight-ahead iamb pent—added to by the somewhat classical style—that the variation in the second line felt unexpected in an unpleasant way. Reading it again and knowing what to expect though, it feels okay. I might suggest varying that first line (re-inverting it would make it feel less anachronistic, though that's not necessarily better), but what do I know

>>16529505
You forgot your punctuation and capitalization, bro.

>>16530031
thanks for your thoughts, I'll keep this in mind when revising
>>16530262
for this particular poem I thought the stanzas and line breaks would be enough to separate between ideas. I'll consider adding punctuation, definitely not capitalization

>>16529505
I'd drop the middle stanza and keep the third-person perspective throughout. It's clear enough you relate to the tree, the switch from compassion to self-pity would alienate a lot of people. Also "binding me here," or "to this place," but not "to here"

test

>>16530458
Apologies, that was me.

I plan on submitting this to an online literary journal, and I have another poem I have in mind to submit if people are interested in more. This edition's theme is "Red".

>>16530487
good luck with your submission, anon.

>>16530716
Thanks, friend.

>>16530487
As the lover held his head

Sanguine tears collect as thick as ink

No more the lover weeps