Werther's Lament

RDS



Werther did desire Lotte

Consumed by fires of passion

Wild imaginings spread flame through his psyche

Drained, his heart was left empty excepting tribulations and a fierce determination in the end. 

Ponderous of mirth and ill-humour

A scourge of bitterness or uproarious laughter 

All feeling better than soulless subordination

Fleeting fate he abandoned for an eternal hereafter

O' why is not love of nature and literature enough?

Or thrills, Werther, in the ambitions of professional lust!

Is it base, to be loved for a turn of mind or flash of intelligence

And is the highest, most impossible ideal of the heart the only worthy art of man's efforts?

Did perverse thrill move the quill on your note to Albert

Who unknowingly, facilitates your outrage. 

As I turn the page on Werther's strange tale, how he tormented his own soul to distraction then destruction. 

He was always written in to an impossibly noble and virtuous existence and Lotte gave him the means to that end. 

  • Author: RDS (Offline Offline)
  • Published: November 24th, 2020 18:58
  • Comment from author about the poem: I've spent a few days composing this after reading Goethe's THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER. I kind of feel done with it, not sure if it is finished. It's a good read if you haven't already.
  • Category: Gothic
  • Views: 31
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Comments3

  • Neville


    Werther's a will there's a way sir ....
    and having read the good book many years ago, much of it came flooding back to me ...
    I must also just add, a most original post ... thoroughly enjoyed...

    Neville

    • RDS

      Haha thanks Neville I did enjoy the book and the tragedy seemed worth a few words if I am to wear the coat of a poet. Yes, novel for me too. Novel all round!
      J

    • Poetic Dan

      First book I picked up was in my 30s and it was all about dog psychology but I enjoyed your words profusely....

      Sorry couldn't help myself lol

      Much peace and respect
      Keep up the write!

      • RDS

        Haha no worries Poetic Dan, we all have pavlovian responses when a bell tinkles, thoughts fall into place and we automatically type....
        Go with the flow
        J

      • Robert Southwick Richmond

        For a very different take on The Sorrows of Werther, see this poem by William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-63).
        https://poets.org/poem/sorrows-werther



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