Romantic

didactic poetry left Shelley cold
aspiring to inspire, not inculcate
his images in readers' minds unfold
that from a preacher have to chafe and grate
Blake's gnosticism in Romantic dress
taught Christ betrayed by Paul and books of rules
his allegoric gods chained in duress
the creed of life, and love, bled dry in schools.
His revolution calls for death to kings
proclaiming liberty throughout the land
that Happy Day of which the prophet sings
--if we'd but lift our eyes--is near at hand.
He died too young, as every schoolboy learns
but through dark years, his dream of Freedom burns