Sunday 14 February 2010

Ozymandias


Maybe it was the reference to sand or a sub-text about the impermanence of things in a comment by Daniel Hoffman-Gill (link to left) on my last posting that brought to mind Shelley's Ozymandias. Here it is...

I met a traveller from an antique land

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.

And on the pedestal these words appear:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away


Quality or what? Blake yesterday, Shelley today. Let it never be said that this blog is not culturally enriching!. Here is the prototype for Ozymandias - Rameses II - in the British Museum minus big chunk off the top of his head. These things happen...


I've never posted a Beatles song before and don't hold your breath waiting for another (it's my generation but I was never a huge fan) but I do like this song...

8 comments:

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill said...

Glad I could inspire summat!

I wonder what statues of our time will rest in odd museums with the meaning only half guessed?

Findon said...

Ozymandias.. Well this just brings to mind the wonderful swirling incantations of Stuart Hall, that doyen of its a knockout and minor league football. His greates perorations involved the tail of Ozymandias. Wonderful Kitch.

Verdant Earl said...

Alan Moore was a fan too. Of Shelley, that is.

Ray Harvey said...

I'd have pegged you to post this song before any of them. '

But, then again, you probably already have.


Just incidentally, I couldn't help noticing that you list as one of your favorite movies Harvey. Coincidence? I don't think so.

unique_stephen said...

But at least for his short time - he was king of the world... I recon he could have at least gotten a root picking up a chick in a bar...
wasnt all for naught

KAZ said...

Yes me too re Beatles - Norwegian Wood was always a favourite and still is.
I'll get back to you on Ozymandias .... but don't hold your breath.

white rabbit said...

DHG - Probs statues of giant rabbits ;)

Findon - I heard Stuart Hall on the radio the other day, think it was his 80th birthday!

Earl - As I expect you know, one of the Watchmen characters was called Ozymandias. Good looking guy Alan Moore ;)

Ray - The Harvey thing is not coincidental. Yes - I posted White Rabbit here yonks ago. the blog is named after the song which is named after a book I wrote but couldn't get poublished which was named after the song... (you get the general idea)

Stephen - I expect if the word went out that the Paharoh was hitting on some ancient Egyptian lovely for a hot date the answer was not 'Nah, I'm washing my hair/ watching Egypt's Got Talent/doing the accounts'

Kaz - I held my breath. I went very red. I decided this was a bad idea and started breathing again....

Petit fleur said...

wow... a non Beatle fan... how unusual.

That was a lovely poem by Shelley. I miss all the naughty jokes though!