"Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats read by David Buchalter

My favorite poem, John Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale" doesn't deserve to be abused by my error (a with/to substitution in the antepenultimate stanza), but I hope the distortion won't distract too much from the monumental poem articulating the narrative voice's desire to and suffering and entire the immortal realm of a (not "the" but "a") nightingale, which, not having an individuated identity, "cannot die," in a sense. Think of how when you see a bird, or hear one in the dark, you think of it's species, identified by its song, not its individuality; likewise, the poet employs the Keatsian concept of "Negative Capability" i.e. the total negation of the ego, to wholly enter the mask of the persona the poet wants the narrative voice to inhabit. As the poem says--punning on "bard": "Thou wast not born for death immortal Bird . . . ."

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[IbraheemalZawahiri]

it's "lee-thee", not "leeth"

[dsbuchalter]

Yes, you're right. My pronunciation of that word is not correct in this reading. Thanks for listening so closely; I had almost forgotten!

[poetryanimations]

Wonderful stuff its about time i put this in my favourites its lovely 5*****.

Kind Regards

Jim Clark

[dsbuchalter]

Thank you much, Jim. I was very happy to share your latest Keats letter with my housemate, another English major, who had read them over the summer. Actually, once I found that out, it was the deciding factor for me to move into my current home; where Keats is loved you can't go wrong. She was as fascinated as me with your image. I watched it over ten times and put it up on my teaching page: if my students memorize the letter to Fanny, they get extra credit. Thanks again.

David

[char1723]

wow. you're good, i mean great. thanks. i have to recite the first stanza tomorrow in my class. you made it extra easy. :)

[dsbuchalter]

Oh! That makes me so happy. I'm sure you'll recite it stunningly tomorrow. Good luck (and take your time!).

[davevontexas]

Thank you, William Shatner.

High five.

[samanthaellis]

now at least i like this poem.. i still dont get it... but i like it!

[opussangneuf]

Hi. I I like very much your recitation, especially the way you recite the third strofe, with harshness, and the "doubt" you put at the end. Long live John Keats.

[louisabridge]

A touch too melodramatic and too much heavy breathing in the first verses. Improving though as the poem lenghtens.

A good effort

[IbraheemalZawahiri]

no problemo; your recitation is overall good & pleasant to listen to :) I think poetry is made to be listened to more than it is to be read and just heard in your own head - hey I made a rhyme: "read" with "head" lol

[louloubeb]

Yes my nightingalllllllllllllllllllll­lllllllllllllll

5*

[dsbuchalter]

;) Well you know how to cheer a guy up (x 10^3!). Thank you very much for your creative comment.

[TheGrammarian]

Thanks for the video response. Very nicely recited. =)