Friday 19 November 2010

would I were steadfast as thou art -




Bright Star (2009)
Written and directed by Jane Campion. Based on the last three years of the English Romantic poet John Keats' life, which was forever marked by his romance with Frances Brawne.






Ambrotype of Frances Brawne taken circa 1850





Lamia, Part 1
Lines 47 - 67

She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue,
Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue;
Striped like a zebra, freckled like a pard,
Eyed like a peacock, and all crimson barr’d;
And full of silver moons, that, as she breathed,
Dissolv’d, or brighter shone, or interwreathed
Their lustres with the gloomier tapestries—
So rainbow-sided, touch’d with miseries,
She seem’d, at once, some penanced lady elf,
Some demon’s mistress, or the demon’s self.
Upon her crest she wore a wannish fire
Sprinkled with stars, like Ariadne’s tiar:
Her head was serpent, but ah, bitter-sweet!
She had a woman’s mouth with all its pearls complete:
And for her eyes: what could such eyes do there
But weep, and weep, that they were born so fair?
As Proserpine still weeps for her Sicilian air.
Her throat was serpent, but the words she spake
Came, as through bubbling honey, for Love’s sake,
And thus; while Hermes on his pinions lay,
Like a stoop’d falcon ere he takes his prey.



John Keats




Now playing: Takacs Quartet - Schubert: String quartet no. 14 in D minor Death and the Maiden D810

4 comments:

Hill House Ramblings said...

Oh, I'm more than a little excited to see this one.

H.H.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Sigh.

Anonymous said...

I loved this movie, the poem and the music.. thank you for posting this !! Cheers~ Robyn

24 Corners said...

How have I not heard of this movie before...I'm now thrilled to have it to look forward to and just know I'll have to go on a Keats binge when I'm done viewing it.
Thank you!
J~