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Poet, What Dreamer Thou Art 

“I feel more and more every day, that as my
imagination strengthens, that I do not live in this
world alone, but in a thousand worlds.”

—John Keats

I’m busy doing nothing, can’t you see?
I’m like a bee. I float from flower to flower.
I live in dreams, a land of reverie,

Apart from what you call reality.
Mine are leisure days, the drowsy hour,
The busyness of nothing. Can’t you see?

My world is rose in bloom, the pleasant lea,
The fruited bough, a misty summer shower.
I live in dreams, a land of reverie:

Imagination’s land of poetry,
Of honey-nectared words, the fairy’s bower;
But I’m busy doing nothing. You can’t see

The workings of my mind—the fantasy
Of inner thoughts, the rhymes that overpower!
I live in dreams, a land of reverie,

And as I’ve said before, I’m like a bee.
I float from sun-to-moon-to-passionflower.
I’m busy doing nothing. Can’t you see
I live in dreams, a land of reverie?

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Cheryl Corey is a Connecticut poet. She is also an author of short stories, a novella, and recently completed a novel.

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18 Responses

  1. Paddy Raghunathan

    Cheryl,

    What a sweet villanelle! I do envy your world, especially, if it’s always “rose in bloom.” 🙂

    I wish we could all live in a world of dreams. Really enjoyed your poem.

    Best regards,

    Paddy

    Reply
  2. Paddy Raghunathan

    Cheryl,

    Just wanted to add: as much as you want to reference Keats, it’s your voice as a poet that comes across. So I see this poem as representing your world, not Keats’. 🙂

    Best regards,

    Paddy

    Reply
  3. Paul Freeman

    Your poem really transported me and gave more than a moment’s respite. Much needed. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Cheryl Corey

      We need as much respite as we can get, in light of the state of things.

      Reply
  4. Martin Rizley

    I enjoyed this excursion into the “land of reverie”. I suppose a gray, pragmatic, prosaic world that values any activity solely in terms of its economic payoff and measurable results, will always view what artists do as a matter of keeping “busy doing nothing.” That someone would retreat into the solitude of quiet reflection in order to produce poems or paintings or musical compositions is seen by many to be a waste of time. But that is to forget that one of the things that makes us human and that distinguishes us from animals and machines—in addition to moral conscience and reason– is our aesthetic faculty– our ability to recognize, value and delight in that which is beautiful. That is why in the Bible, artistic ability is seen as a gift of God, as a blessing to makind. (Exodus 31:2-6, 35:30-32). How colorless, drab and impoverished would human society be, without the contribution of those “honey bees” who float from flower gathering sweet nectar in order to bring forth the honey of artistic creations that stir the heart, delight the senses, and heighten appreciation for life in its multi-faceted beauty.

    Reply
    • Cheryl Corey

      So true, Martin. A thought I had as I wrote the poem is that there are those who look down their noses at poets. They see the poet as a mere idler, and the writing of poetry as some kind of quaint hobby. What they don’t realize is that the poetic mind is, in fact, “busy as a bee”; and therein lies the irony. And as you said, this can apply to the other arts as well.

      Reply
  5. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Your poem is a pleasant reverie that succinctly describes the “other world” of the poet. Pleasant thoughts and images!

    Reply
  6. Norma Pain

    Such a beautiful poem. Ditto everything Martin Rizley said. Thank you Cheryl.

    Reply
  7. Margaret Coats

    Glad this is counted “satire.” Otherwise the capable villanelle would seem to be self-mockery!

    Reply
  8. Cynthia Erlandson

    I love the beauty and musicality of this poem. Thank you, Cheryl.

    Reply
  9. Kate Farrell

    I really appreciate your poem, Cheryl.
    Someone said that poetry is a closer look
    beyond the harsh realities to beauty and wonder that are enlivening and free…the
    antidote to loud voices of mass culture.

    Reply
  10. C.B. Anderson

    Thumbs up! Your deft touch and mastery of the form are a pleasure to behold. I spent more years than I care to admit in Middletown, CT, and I am happy to be another Connecticut poet along with the likes of you.

    Reply
    • Cheryl Corey

      I took a lesson from you, C.B., when I saw how you heightened the interest in one of your recent villanelles (in my opinion) through slight variation of the lines. This is the first villanelle I’ve ever done. In general, I’m not a fan of repetitive lines, save for a refrain. I greatly appreciate your compliment.

      Reply
      • C.B. Anderson

        Yes, there is almost nothing that falls flat faster, Cheryl, than a villanelle in which the repetends are mechanically repeated verbatim from beginning to end.

  11. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Cheryl, what a beautiful place you live in… and your villanelle is the perfect form to paint a poetic picture of your world of poetry. I love it!

    Reply

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