by Carl Kruse
Already immortalized by the time Willy Wonka re-immortalized it, Arthur O’Shaughnessy‘s ode resonates beautifully with those sure they are the music makers, the dreamers of dreams, the movers and shakers.
And wouldn’t that be all of us?
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers
And sitting by desolate streams;—
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
With wonderful deathless ditties,
we build up the world’s great cities.
And out of a fabulous story,
we fashion an empire’s glory.
One man, with a dream, at pleasure
shall go forth and conquer a crown.
And three, with a new song’s measure
can trample an empire down.
We, in the ages lying,
in the buried past of the Earth,
built Nineveh with our sighing
and Babel itself with our mirth.
And o’erthrew them with prophesying
to the old of the New World’s worth.
For each age is a dream that is dying,
or one that is coming to birth.
-Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy, “Ode” from his book “Music and Moonlight,” 1874
The blog homepage is at https://carlkruse.org
Reach us at CARL AT CARLKRUSE DOT COM
Here’s a link to another blog post that talks about real music makers and dreamers of dreams.
Carl Kruse is also active on Soundcloud.
Many think it was Willy Wonka who came up with the first two lines of the Ode, but the words precede Wonka by some time, and had been even set to music several times. But Wonka delivers the lines with panache, perhaps being the consumate music maker and dreamer of dreams.
– Carl Kruse
1,000% agree Carl Kruse.
I love this poem Carl Kruse. And yes, while at times it might not seem like it, WE ALL ARE dreamers of dreams and makers of music.
Hello from the Land Downunder.
Marty
Hello, hello Marty! Thanks for the words and greetings to Australia. Happy you liked O’Shaughnessy’s ode to the dreamers of dreams.
Cheers!
Carl Kruse
Lay it on me brotha man!
Read it twice. Still glowing.
I used to think I could be a writer, a great artist, but then I read poetry like this and I crawl back into my own head.
Many thanks for your comments and as it’s Christmas Day wishing you all a fantastic holiday season. Here’s hoping that 2016 is bursting with magic and goodness aplenty.
Cheers!
Carl Kruse
By the way Tostao stop that. You are you and have your own unique experiences. Work at what you’ve got to work out and who knows one day we may all be looking at you in awe. Do not give up and work it.
Carl Kruse
Heya Carl Kruse – I like this. And I can just hear Willy Wonka saying it.
Love, love, love.
Ain’t it great Tori?
I LOVE THIS TOO!
I love that you love it Ann. Thank you for stopping by.
Carl Kruse
First off I want to say awesome blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you do not mind.
I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing.
I’ve had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my
thoughts out. I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first
10 to 15 minutes are usually wasted just trying to figure out how
to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Cheers!