I posted two photos yesterday of men I admire, the poet Thomas Wyatt and the singer Raul Malo. While looking at Thomas’s poems I came across one I hadn’t seen before, and it reminded me of a song by Raul “Call me when you get to heaven.” Thomas was born in 1509, centuries before calling any one other than by hallooing was beyond imagination (apart from Leonardo da Vinci, maybe) but it was a verse from Raul’s song which triggered the connection for me, along the lines of “At times I find it just impossible to try and carry on this way…”
Here is Thomas’s poem, written nearly 500 years ago (Thomas died in 1542 at the age of 39)
Is it possible
Is it possible
That so high debate,
So sharp, so sore, and of such rate,
Should end so soon and was begun so late?
Is it possible?
Is it possible
So cruel intent,
So hasty heat and so soon spent,
From love to hate, and thence for to relent?
Is it possible?
Is it possible
That any may find
Within one heart so diverse mind,
To change or turn as weather and wind?
Is it possible?
Is it possible
To spy it in an eye
That turns as oft as chance on die,
The truth whereof can any try?
Is it possible?
It is possible
For to turn so oft,
To bring that lowest which was most aloft,
And to fall highest yet to light soft:
It is possible.
All is possible
Whoso list believe.
Trust therefore first, and after preve,
As men wed ladies by licence and leave.
All is possible.
Lois Elsden 