A rejoinder to Sagar

(The original poem: Do not go down to the woods today by Ursula Sagar.)

     Do not go down to the woods today,
     Although they’re lovely, dark and deep.
     You know exactly what lies that way
     And you have promises to keep
     And other, safer games to play
     And other arms to charm your sleep.

     Do not jump into the rabbit hole
     Or wander through the wardrobe door.
     You’re far too old for the title role
     And anyway, the plot’s a bore:
     The queen of hearts is off her head,
     The dormouse just goes back to bed,
     The lion reigns – the witch is dead,
     The children sleep at home once more
     And all is as it was before.

     Do not go gentle into that
     good night; don’t follow the moonlit stream,
     For when the day comes, harsh and bright,
     The potion’s spent – it’s not a dream.
     Then every elf and fairy sprite
     And every flower of delight
     Will fade like fireflies out of sight.
     Don’t rage against that dying light;
     You’ll know at once what’s wrong, what’s right,
     In morning’s fiercer, braver beam.

I shall go down to the woods today;
Trees grow, seasons run, changing the way,
And I have promises to keep:
As, when I took the title role,
Not to forsake the forest games,
Not to forget the faery dreams,
And anyway, I write the plot,
And all is mine to change, or not.
To struggle with what’s wrong, what’s right
Truth’s found as much in dark as light.

Reuben Thomas
2nd January 2011

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This document was translated from L^AT_EX by H^EV^EA.

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Last updated 2019/11/24