Fragment of an Epistle to Thomas Moore
The poem is a lamentation of the poet's own life and circumstances, expressing feelings of isolation, disillusionment, and despair. It reflects on the fleeting nature of human existence and the inevitability of decline and death. The speaker expresses a sense of disconnection from society and a longing for transcendence beyond the limitations of mortal life.
By Lord Byron · First published 1817 · Genre: Poetry, Satire, Epistolary · 374 words
First lines
‘What say I? ' - not a syllable further in prose; I'm your man ‘of all measures,' dear Tom, - so here goes! Here goes, for a swim on the stream of old Time, On those buoyant supporters, the bladders of rhyme.
If our weight breaks them down, and we sink in the flood, We are smother'd, at least, in respectable mud, Where the Divers of Bathos lie drown'd in a heap, And Southey's last Pean has pillow'd his sleep; That Felo de se,' who, half drunk with his malmsey, Walk'd out of his depth and was lost in a calm sea, Singing ‘Glory to God' in a spick and span stanza, The like (since Tom Sternhold was choked) never man saw.
What this Textopian page supports
Fragment of an Epistle to Thomas Moore is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1817 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1817 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Satire, Epistolary, Romanticism
- Length: 374 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetic form.
- Satire — The text employs humor, irony, and exaggeration to critique and mock societal norms and figures.
- Epistolary — The work is structured as a letter addressed to a specific individual, fitting the epistolary genre.
- Romanticism — The themes and style reflect the Romantic era's focus on emotion, individualism, and critique of contemporary society.
Tags
Poem · Elegy · Satire · Epistle · Letter · Verse · Literary · Romanticism · Byronic · Critique · Social Commentary · Politics