I have never been fond of Wordsworth's work , despite some of his magnificent phrases like splendour in the grass or trailing clouds of glory. But just yesterday someone mentioned in conversation his Ode on the Intimations of Immortality, the last word of which I typically misheard as immorality.

The following is the result. I hope I covered all the permutations and commutations. And as he is the poet that he is, I have added a moral.

Wordsworth Reviewed

Intimations of mortality

It goes on getting harder week by week

to convince the unwilling self that life's worth living

knowing one's powers have long since passed their peak

that the ticking of the clock sounds unforgiving.

Since the world around has changed beyond belief ,

The final darkness can only bring relief .

 

Imitations of mortality

Still the round goes on , with little variation.

Some pleasantries exchanged , so insincere

that even their recipients , in frustration

make their annoyance with the giver clear .

Nothing annoys a man more than You're looking well ,

When the truth of the matter is , he feels like hell.

Intimations of immorality

The thought of all those sensual pleasures lost

gnaws like a rabid rat in the cage of the brain ;

The passionate years when the libertine gaily tossed

sweet love to the winds , will never come again.

What's left 's no more than a whisp of mind-bound thought,

A hope to re-learn what once the senses taught .

Imitations of immorality

The stage where once his artifice could flourish

has narrowed now and lacks both breadth and scope.

No eager followers cluster now to nourish

desires and plans burnished to shine with hope.

Each oft repeated ploy has dulled with time;

His show is now no more than pointless mime .

 

Intimations of morality

Where now then is it possible to turn

to reconstruct a holier cleaner life ?

No longer shall he feel his passions burn

No longer shall they bring him grief or strife.

Now shall he join the legions of the blest

and stand above , to look down on the rest.

 

Imitations of morality

As now he cannot achieve in fact the deed

He takes another, higher , moral stance:

And as from now he feels that he is freed

of the common madding crowd's derisive glance.

He stands apart from their unabated scorn

and feels himself as pristine , newly born.

 

Intimations of immortality

The process of purification now complete,

he looks ahead to that resplendent time,

hoping the hours will pass with motion fleet

and he will become at one with the Sublime.

He has chosen as his lot the righteous path ,

and Heaven must follow in the aftermath .

 

Imitations of immortality

Works of beaten brass and carven stone

are set to replace him in this vale of tears.

But the legs of Ozymandias stand alone

where the desert sands destroy all hopes or fears !

Not even the wisest of sages can ever say

where fame has gone once he has passed away.

 

Intimations of limitations

Thus , counter to all and any expectations

A man must recognise his limitations .