Richard Brodie

Anagrammy Awards > Literary Archives > Richard Brodie

Original text in yellow, anagram in pink.

Psalm #46 contains some amazing coincidences:
(1) The 46th word counting forward from the beginning is "shake".
(2) The 46th word counting backward from the end (omitting the final "Selah" refrain) is "spear".
(3) In 1611, the year in which the King James Version was first printed, Shakespeare was 46 years old.

The following verse level anagram contains more Shakespeare/46 connections. Can you spot them?

1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Ever the friend in struggles, turn to a generous Lord, be happy.

2

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Refrains which the downbeat righteous often emitted, Heaven heareth, though all of it seemed abhorrent utter doom;

3

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Although the sea fountain foameth berserk with rage, and the blue surge to the shore throweth down the hills.

4

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

Emerging as from cool heights, a creek of faith that heals floweth by the Lord's sacred home, that verily pleaseth thee.

5

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Perish the darned theory men hold that the Lord has moods; he shall be giving all gifts.

6

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Sheikdoms thundered, however Heaven targeteth the heretic: delete them! I am God.

7

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Elect of Judah, we boast God's our hero; He fights for us, this soil.

8

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

Koranic bloodletter death wish? Ha! He endeth the sad home of the loath worms.

9

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Arms He shattered in wrath; hated nukes He chaineth; the wicked heathen brute bent on torture, He thrasheth to the benefit of our peace;

10

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Halt talk, ban the heated debate, end herewith the imagining. Lo, I exist; all will bow and extol me.

11

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Safe is our House; O behold, it's clear how God fights for the just.

Return to Richard Brodie Index

At the age of 15 Lord Byron became enamoured of a distant cousin, Mary Chaworth, who grew tired of "that lame boy" (he had a club foot). She became the symbol for him of idealized and unattainable love. It is probable, though not certain considering all the affairs he had in his short life, that he wrote this poem with her as his inspiration - which is reflected in the anagram by the use of an additional constraint, an acrostic on the phrase "MARY CHAWORTH MY LOVE".

She walks in Beauty, like the night
      Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
      Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
      Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
      Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
      Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
      How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
      So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
      But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
      A heart whose love is innocent!

Mark! How she strides in sabled grace
      As, in the late empyrean glow,
Repose within that shadowed face
      Youth's luster that's untarnished; Oh
Caressed by that soft-hued embrace
      He made the stately sun forgo.

A more, a less, illumined scene
      Will make that silken palette fade
Of silver locks bathed with a sheen,
      Regaled with white skin half displayed;
Then on her visage shy, serene
      Her chaste conceits one sees portrayed.

My queen, with that sweet heart there dwells
      Youth's forthright innocence, and so
Love tender now enchanted wells;
      Oh noble golden wit that no
Vain homage pays, that girl's worth tells.
      Exalted loving pray bestow!

Return to Richard Brodie Index

Surah #108, with only three verses, has the distinction of being the shortest in the Koran. The following English rendition contains 129 letters, and anagrams nicely to a Rubaiyat in the style of the 11th century Persian poet, Omar Khayyam. Note the two levels of meaning in the word "yield" - "submit to" and "give to" - appropriate in view of the fact that Islam means "Submission".

Abundance (Kausar) Surah
Lo! We have given thee Abundance.
So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice.
Surely your enemy is the one who shall be without posterity.

In truth, much has upon you been bestowed.
To Allah yield, in virtue, what He's owed.
Cry: "Butcher any Aryan!" knaves to us;
Your pagan foes' increase shall I erode.

Return to Richard Brodie Index

This sonnet is noted for its use of alliteration. 33 words are involved, there is 1 instance of a triple, and only 3 lines contain none.

The special constraint is to try and "improve" on these numbers as much as possible - which is not, of course, to say that the poem has been improved :)

The result is 44 words, 4 triples, and every line has at least one instance. (When counting you have to keep in mind that it is the initial sound that must be repeated, which is not always the same as the initial letter.)

No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone.

Cry not upon my corpse at my life's close
If tolls with tainted tone the knell one knows
Announces when my life is lost, to live
With grievious maggots: Oh may you not give
Another thought if you my sonnet see
Unto this poet; his pure love for thee
Will no immortal mournful muse allow
To follow morbid memory. When thou
At his rhymed work do one day look, when I
Be then imbued with mud, refrain from my
Unworthy buried handle saying. Heave
Away the dear love you did hold, and leave
That woeful choir, mirth killer, who'd aspire
To laugh at our hearts' old sweet warm desire.

Return to Richard Brodie Index

Dante Rossetti was an English poet and painter of the pre-Raphaelite school, who composed poetry to go along with his paintings. His Venus Verticordia is one such work.

Ellin Anderson is a modern American poet living in Vermont, who wrote a poem on the same theme, Verticordia, which means "heart turner".

My anagram of Rossetti's poem features an acrostic tribute to each of them.

Venus Verticordia
by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

She hath the apple in her hand for thee,
Yet almost in her heart would hold it back;
She muses, with her eyes upon the track
Of that which in thy spirit they can see.
Haply, 'Behold, he is at peace,' - the dart
That follows its brief sweetness to his heart, -
The wandering of his feet perpetually!'

A little space her glance is still and coy;
But if she give the fruit that works her spell,
Those eyes shall flame as for her Phrygian boy.
Then shall her bird's strained throat the woe foretell,
And her far seas moan as a single shell,
And through her dark grove strike the light of Troy.

Text version

Return to Richard Brodie Index

Return to Poem Page


Updated: May 10, 2016


Home

 | The Anagrammy Awards | Enter the Forum | Facebook | The Team

Information

 | Awards Rules | Forum FAQ | Anagrams FAQ | History | Articles

Resources

 | Anagram Artist Software | Generators | On-line | Books | Websites

Archives

 | Winners | Nominations | Hall of Fame | Anagrammasia | Literary | Specials

Competition

 | Vote | Current Nominations | Leader Board | Latest Results | Old Results | Rankings

Miscellaneous

 | Tribute Page | Records | Sitemap | Search | Anagram Checker | Email Us | Donate

Anagrammy Awards

  © 1998-2024