Theodore Wratislaw "Joyful Death" Poem

Heres a virtual movie of Theodore Wratislaw 1871 - 1933 who was one of the more obscure members of the decadent poetry movement of the late Victorian period which included Ernest Dowson and Arthur Symons. Little seems to be known of him. His surname suggests that he may have been of eastern European antecedence.

A writer of mostly dandified poetry himself this rather more macabre elegantly structured poem surely pleads for a natural death uncluttered by pity and formal ceremony. It is a translation from the French by Charles Baudelaire.

Regards

Jim Clark

All rights are reserved on this video sound recording copyright Jim Clark 2008

Joyful Death

In a snail covered earth and rich and deep
I will dig out for mine own self my grave,
Where I can throw my old tired bones and sleep
Forgetful as a shark upon the wave.

I hate both wils and tombs; rather, God knows,
Than ask the world one tear upon my name,
Living, I would far gladlier bid the crows
Suck out the blood from my uncleanly frame.

O worms! black friendswho may not hear or see,
There comes a dead man glad and free!
Philosophers! Wise sons of rottenness,

Unpitying crawl from feet to ruined head
And tell me if any pain remains for this
Old soulless bodydead among the dead!