Where Are The Romantics? (an ubi sunt)

Where are the romantics?
Those who cheer the common man
embracing the curiosity of childhood
to better understand

Where are the romantics?
The ones owning strong senses
conveying feelings and emotions
without need to erect defenses

Where are the romantics?
The men who approach nature with awe
sourcing inspiration from the mountains
in tune with everything and all

Where are the romantics?
The women who celebrate the individual
nourishing and encouraging all others
understanding each one is original

Where are the romantics?
Those whose imaginations run free
taking us to uncharted destinations
where even the blind can see

Where are the romantics?
Where are they indeed?

——

Image: The Austrian Alps near Lienz, Austria by Ron Rowland 21 May 2017

Linked to Linda Kruschke’s Ubi Sunt Challenge. The challenge today is to write a poem that asks this timeless question: “where are?” 

Note: In this ubi sunt, each stanza addresses one of the five characteristics of romanticism.

——

UBI SUNT (uh’-suhnt’, “uh” pronounced as in “put”; Latin, “where are”) Poetic theme in which the poet asks “where are” certain people, where have they gone. The theme began in Medieval Latin, with the formula ubi sunt used to introduce a roll call of the dead or missing and to suggest how transitory life is. The best-known ubi sunt poem [is] François Villon’s ballade whose refrain is “But where are the snows of yester-year?” …the poetry dictionary, pg. 330.

Pete Seeger’s “Where have All the Flowers Gone?” is an ubi sunt song. Here it is, performed by the Kingston Trio: