To Althea from Prison

When love with unconfined wings,
Hovers within my gates;
And my divine Althea brings,
To whisper at he grates;
When I lye tangled in her haire,
And fetterd to her eye,
The birds, that wanton in the aire,
Know no such libertye

When flowing cups run swiftly round,
With no allaying Thames;
Our carelesse heads with roses bound,
Our hearts with loyal flames;
When thirsty griefe in wine we steepe,
When healths and draughts go free;
Fishes, that tipple in the deepe,
Know no such libertye.

When (like committed linnets) I,
With shriller throat shall sing;
The sweetness,mercy, majesty,
And glories of my King.
When I shall voyce aloud, how good,
He is, how great should be;
Inlarged winds, that curle the flood,
Know no such libertye.

Stone walls doe not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Mindes innocent and quiet take,
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedome in my love,
And in my soule am free;
Angels alone that sore above,
Enjoy such liberty.

--Richard Lovelace

Having the time--for the first time in many decades, to do a bit of musing; I decided to start this blog as a sort of retirement journal.

I've chosen a cross-section of my favorite poets to lay a cornerstone for each new post. Today it is Richards Lovelace,a Cavalier Poet writing during the reign of King Charles I in the 1600s.

This poem, while not my favorite of his production contains one of the most famous couplets in the English Language. That's why it's here.

In tomorrow's post I'll have a different poet, and probably a different theme.

I'm in my third month of retirement.

And I'm loving the h-e-double hockey sticks out of it! I'm drinking more coffee, more tea, more adult beverages; and generally lazing through each new day.

It's truly amazing when you can wake up each day and remember its a "weekend" kind of day. I haven't shaved yet today, and I don't intend to. I haven't combed what little hair I have yet; and probably, if I have to go out somewhere, will just throw a cap or hat on the noggin.

The dishes from Saturday's dinner are resting in close proximity to our kitchen sink. I promised to do them today. But that exercise doesn't have to start until at least 4:45 PM; and I can still finish up before my beloved arrives home from work. Too cool!

Did you know that when you are retired, Cocktail Time is anytime you want it to be.

As this blog/journal moves along in its time space continuum, I'll be adding new comments as I'm inspired to. For now I'll close so I can get this entry out into cyber space.