On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer by John Keats and Wish You Were Here by Incubus

On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer

Much have I traveled in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western isles have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apolo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep browed Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then felt I like a watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or, like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He stared at the Pacific - and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise -
Silent upon a peak in Darien.

John Keats

image from NSF.gov

This is another poem I've had memorized since high school.  The English teacher who had us memorize poems, soliloquies and passages from famous works was an incredible pain at the time.  I have a great deal of appreciation these days, when I have entire poems floating around in my head.  

Today's song is by Incubus and called Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here

I dig my toes into the sand. 
The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket. 
I lean against the wind, pretend that i am weightless and in this moment i am happy.

[Chorus:]
I wish you were here 
I wish you were here 
I wish you were here 
I wish you were here.

I lay my head onto the sand. 
The sky resembles a backlit canopy with holes punched in it. 
I'm counting ufo's. 
I signal them with my lighter 
and in this moment i am happy, happy. 

[Chorus]

The world's a roller coaster and I am not strapped in. 
Maybe I should hold with care,but my hands are busy in the air.