Porphyria's Lover By Robert Browning

A one time performance during the 5th Annual Dead Poets Slam at Sarah Lawrence College on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 8:00 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall.

From the SLC Event Calendar:
Students will embody and present the work of dead poets in a lively, theatrical context. Performers include: Jade Foster, Jorge Monterrosa, Meg Plunkett, Sonnet Graham, Natalie Park, Shannon Houston, Davin Searls, Hadley Franklin, Molly Jo Gorevan, Emmalea Russo, Lindsey Bontempo, Gary Ploski, John Powell, David Clark, Arielle Narva, Judith Chiriqui, Josh Schneider, Melissa Bayer, Jennifer Hanks, Jake Schneider, and several faculty guests. Poems to be performed include work by Anne Sexton, John Donne, June Jordan, Yehuda Amichai, Marina Tsvetaeva, Miguel Pinero, John Berryman, Frank O'Hara, William Carlos Williams, and others. Organized by Jeffrey McDaniel and Sonnet Graham.

--
Porphyria's Lover
By Robert Browning

The rain set early in tonight,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
and did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down by my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me--she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavor,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me forever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could tonight's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshiped me: surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propped her head up as before
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!
--

Category:

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[RonricoPuertoRico]

Gary, you are brilliant. It's a shame I could only utilize your skills as a clown though.... (hint hint)....

[garyploski]

Thanks @RonricoPuertoRico

Wasted? No, no, no. Personified! I really look forward to seeing your/my clown in the final cut. Mwaahahahaa.

[MegaCoolbeanz123]

who is he?

[garyploski]

@MegaCoolbeanz123 He = The author - Robert Browning, The speaker in the poem -Porphyria's Lover, The performer -Me, Gary Ploski.

[matesmrioslav]

damn it is off sync

[garyploski]

@matesmrioslav The audio sync has been resolved and the 480p version is now available. Thanks again for the note.

[bluephlox]

Wow, you elitist self righteous literary snob. Poetry works many different ways- not just the way you think is right. I like this reading. It helps bring life to the poem.

[Mickyd0712]

great enthusisam. =)

[garyploski]

@matesmrioslav It looks like the 360p is off sync but the 240p is fine. YouTube must be playing with something on their servers because it's been working fine since it was posted.

Thanks for the heads up.

[garyploski]

Thanks for the kind words SaMiiExGaHaGaN.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that a relevant question is asked so you can reference this amazing poem.

Good luck with your test!

[SaMiiExGaHaGaN]

man thanks for posting this i have a english exam in 5 days, i really hope a question pops up that i can use this poem as the subject. you performed it soooo well :)

[sealoforicalchoas]

you did good it was awesome! =)