When this old world was new,
Before the towns were made,
Love was a shepherd too.
Clear-eyed as flowers men grew,
Of evil unafraid,
When this old world was new.
No skill had they to woo,
Who but their hearts obey'd—
Love was a shepherd too.
What need to feign or sue?
Not thus was life delay'd
When this old world was new.
Under the cloudless blue
They kiss'd their shepherd-maid—
Love was a shepherd too.
They knew but joy; they knew
No pang of Love decay'd:
When this old world was new,
Love was a shepherd too.
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Comments
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Please correct typo
I am not familiar with this poem, certainly not to the point of total recall for it. I am however very familiar with the villanelle form. As written this poem is not a villanelle and clearly Dobson wrote it as one.
L6 should be a refrain of L1. You have replaced L1s last word with L2s last word which not only ruins the villanelle but also the rhyme scheme. Replace the word 'made' in L6 with 'new' and all will be well.
Bryan -
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Hello Bryan, thank you for you help in assisting Oldpoetry to present poems correctly.
Over the years OP volunteers have worked hard to add poets and their work to this site. Inevitably errors are made. Your help is appreciated. Also too, as OP policy some of your additions have been removed once the correction has been made. We try to encourage comments on the poems themselves and therefore try to concentrate on the poem content.
Your efforts and assistance are valuable. Thank you for your time and effort and we hope you will continue to enjoy the poems/poets we have on our Oldpoetry site.
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I so loved this poem and the way it described on how the world was new and how love was different. Very different than the way it is today..A very good poem indeed..Ann
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This was a very good poem, I loved the message in it and the repeition. Great job.
Blessed be,
Lefay
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