Is Life Worth Living? by Alfred Austin (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

He almost has you fooled. This was Victorian England and life was indeed very nice if you were a man of substance. The last picture shows what life was like if you were not. Alfred Austin has been called the worst Poet Laureate. He was highly critical of other poets of his day, such as Tennyson and Browning, and Browning called him "The Banjo Byron" in retaliation. Take note: to invent a devastating nickname for your enemy can inflict an injury that never heals.
In this poem he is at his best, describing flora and fauna. I left out the last verses because they throw a damper on the mood of the poem, which isn't at all bad. Actually it's very tricky to read, being full of tongue-twisters, open-vowels and sibilants.
This was Victorian England, a male-dominated society. A girl's best chance of a comfortable living was to find a wealthy patron who would treat her kindly. The men thought they were doing the girls a favour. In return the girls thought themselves lucky. The men took pride in their skills in seduction. There was very little else to do: no television, no telephones, no internet. It was the main topic in the gentlemen's clubs which never admitted women. Most dirty jokes come from this era e.g.
"When a maid of honour loses her honour, what must you do?"
"Why, you must get her honour back again ".
(it's a double-entendre, say it out loud and it sounds like "get her on her back again")
Here's the Pearl A Magazine of Facetiae and Voluptuous Reading 1879-1880
tinyurl.com/The...
You might have noticed the give-away phrases "makes springtime in the maiden 's blood", "and in the twilight maids grow kind" and "christian charity to leaven lowly lives". The streets and parks teemed with prostitutes. In contrast, life for the lower orders was grim.
It has been argued that men actually were more masculine in those days. Sperm counts have declined considerably since Victorian times. Some scientists say the change in society is partly due to the change of diet, some say it's due to the emancipation of women. Believe whatever suits you best.
Here's the last verses that I withheld. You will see why I didn't read them.
Not care to live while English homes
Nestle in English trees,
And England's Trident-Sceptre roams
Her territorial seas!
Not live while English songs are sung
Wherever blows the wind,
And England's laws and England's tongue
Enfranchise half mankind!
So long as in Pacific main,
Or on Atlantic strand,
Our kin transmit the parent strain,
And love the Mother-Land;
So long as in this ocean Realm,
Victoria and her Line
Retain the heritage of the helm,
By loyalty divine;
So long as flashes English steel,
And English trumpets shrill,
He is dead already who doth not feel
Life is worth living still.

[@michaelhermiston]

brought a tear to my eye, i love so the embrace of words by Alfred and again by Tom ... many friends feel overwhelmed with the woes of the world these days, i'll presently send them this magnificent recitation... lovely !

[@Chamelionroses]

Thank you for sharing so much life and these readings.

[@ryangreen6255]

That is so profound. I needed this poem this morning. 🙂🙂🙂

[@CaroleMcDonnell]

Had to smile. I love your underbar commentaries.

[@rekostarr7149]

will definitely save this poem for later when I'm closer to it.

[@DUMPPREP]

Mmm. Soothing as always. Thank you :)

[@melmoth2219]

Wonderfully read. Your voice has a wonderful sound and you read with expert expression. Thank you! Bravo!!! Your added notes were very interesting and enlightening. I can also see why you left out the last verses. They strike a brazen note of jingoism that does not fit well with the first parts of the poem -- but may have fit well with his laureateship and its demands. I prefer to leave out the carnal innuendo, but fully understand your noting its presence.

[@pieceofshitweeb150B]

Very emotionally powerful.

[@3leopardsblue]

are you nuts?? powerful? its SHMALTZ ..

[@mrmoviemanic1]

I know, I thought near the beginning it was going to link all the beautiful things in life so we can feel incredibly happy, but then it tells us of how evil is also what makes the world go round. And how much it is needed in order to feel like life is worth striving for. Not saying that a world of complete and utter piece would be boring, but it's something that will never happen since some of us just hate life itself. At least that's what I took from it. SpokenVerse always chooses the right poems.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

Alfred Austin's poetry is the best poetry I have ever read! Better than Wanker Owen, Divey Thomas, Ted Poos, Sylvia Shat, Seamus Peabrain and all that 20th and 21st century modern poetry shit! Except for some poets but this is better than poets like Sylvia Plath. I don't even understand her garbage poetry!

[@GameBoyPL1991]

Could someone name all these paintings? Especially first three.

[@SpokenVerse]

Mother and Children by Maude Goodman, 1880 Spring by William McTaggart, 1864 The Garden that I Love George Samuel Elgood, 1894 and the last one is Applicants for Admission to a Casual Ward by Luke Fildes, 1874

[@GameBoyPL1991]

SpokenVerse Thanks.