Epithalamion
by Richard Bauckham
All our love is deeply (as a folk
tale in the memory of once upon
a time the golden-haired princess awoke
from spellbound slumbers to a carillon
of kisses) grounded in the depth of his
own dying. For the risk of love we dare
(the peasant boy with rustic pleasantries
courted the princess of the golden hair)
because the tale is told (how she was brought
a virgin victim to the dragon's lair,
a bride self-bartered for her people's weal)
of love as strong as death (our hero fought
with death's dark reptile) that our hearts may bear
his true love as an everlasting seal.
Richard Bauckham
September 1946 –
- Biblical scholar and theologian
- Works cover the theology of Jürgen Moltmann, Christology (both New Testament and systematic), eschatology, the New Testament books of Revelation, James, 2 Peter and Jude, Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature, and many others
- Until 2007 was Professor of New Testament Studies at the University of St Andrews, Scotland
- Is retired to work on writing and studies
- Written poetry, and two story books for children about the MacBears of Bearloch
- You've heard of him before
Poem Structure
-
3 quatrains + 1 couplet = 14 lines
- Regular rhyme scheme
- Iambic pentameter
It's a Sonnetish!
Rhyme
All our love is deeply (as a folk A
tale in the memory of once upon B
a time the golden-haired princess awoke A
from spellbound slumbers to a carillon B
of kisses) grounded in the depth of his C
own dying. For the risk of love we dare D
(the peasant boy with rustic pleasantries C
courted the princess of the golden hair) D
Rhyme cont.
because the tale is told (how she was brought E
a virgin victim to the dragon's lair, D
a bride self-bartered for her people's weal) F
of love as strong as death (our hero fought E
with death's dark reptile) that our hearts may bear D
his true love as an everlasting seal. F
Rhythm
iambic pentameter
Poem Analysis
Def: Epithalamium
a song or poem in honor of a bride and bridegroom.
Def: Carillon
a musical instrument that is typically housed in the bell tower (belfry) of a church or other municipal building
Def: Weal
that which is best for someone or something.
Weaves back and forth between metaphor (fairytale) and God's tireless love.
All our love is deeply (as a folk
tale in the memory of once upon
a time the golden-haired princess awoke
from spellbound slumbers to a carillon
of kisses) grounded in the depth of his
own dying. For the risk of love we dare
(the peasant boy with rustic pleasantries
courted the princess of the golden hair)
because the tale is told (how she was brought
a virgin victim to the dragon's lair,
a bride self-bartered for her people's weal)
of love as strong as death (our hero fought
with death's dark reptile) that our hearts may bear
his true love as an everlasting seal.
Like Tolkien said to Lewis, the story of Christ is the myth that actually is true.