You, who deserted Tyne for Thames,
became
Dissenter from dissenters on
choosing
Physic rather than faith and saw
Reason
Enough to ally with Pope against
Church
In all tendentious denominations.
Time now to kindle interest in
your verse,
Those pleasures of the imagination
You measured in lines precise as
scalpel
Incisions, going to such lengths
to cure
Souls and instruct those willing
to become
Students of wisdom’s anatomy. For
Enlightenment driving away shadows
From darkened minds revealed
revelation
As inferior to experience.
Nature is the sacred text the poet
Reads and draws out the lessons
modern eyes
Can clearly see for themselves,
however
Difficult appears the poem at
first.
Dave
Alton
