Alfred Lord Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 / Lincoln / England)

Yes, indeed, a wonderful, wonderful poem. Read it together with Cavafy's Ithaca. Absolutely breathtaking!

There is something in this kind of poetry which puts a spell on the reader. It gets into the blood stream and creates in the reader the feelings and the thoughts of the hero - as one reads, the breath quickens, and the body longs to be out there with Ulysses chancing one's arm against fate.

Tennyson sought to achieve perfection others of his age never thought about! His quest for classical range as the taste of it is felt in this poem talks much about his ability in poetry! His poems are just like polished gems rare to be found among many of his calibre!

@ shahzia...
i so agree there...indeed lovely lines with an almost exotic charm, one reads in wonderment as the words literally from the sky, dance a tango fit neatly right in place to complete the jigsaw that the great poet’s mind weaves in astonishing richness.

Some lines are picked verbatim from the original toils...and yet they fit in flawlessly

wow to the masters.
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My favorite lines from this master-piece:

I cannot rest from travel; I will drink
Life to the lees.................
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Old age hath yet his honor and his toil.
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It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
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but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

My love of literature knows no bounds and

Old age hath yet his honor and his toil.
Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods...

Come, my friends.
'T is not too late to seek a newer world
... for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.

thus quoted has always been pure inspiration to this septuagenarian..

one of the best poems :)

My favorite. Tennyson's Ulysses turned me on to poetry when I was 18. My next favorite poem is Thomas Hardy's Neutral Tones. I'm now making my way through Emily Dickinson. She's tough.

I really like this poem! ! : D

I must write that I feel so good to be here, near this great poet, whose poetry is the great love of my life.I have a feeling of happiness and I feel, also, the eternity...