Oxford Sonnet
Sonnet for Hosei University at Oxford
We came again to the city of spires and dreams
Where England's aspirations were built and carved
In honey limestone of Jurassic coral seas
Wherein minds are sculpted, nurtured and preserved
From the ancient college, founder of Nation's learning
Beyond oak doors, The High tells a history in stone
The buildings speak with eloquence of the spirits' yearning
In stately palace and in humble home
In the sun wide eyed emperors gaze in bewildered senescence
By Sheldonian and Clarendon, symbols of human elation
And in night darkened square the Camera's massive presence
Is viscerally discerned as of a primal creation
Here we sought to kindle an ember and to start
The fires of creation in youthful Nippon hearts
Notes:
Short course in English speaking medium, run for Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan. The venue was University College Oxford.
'The High' = The High Street, lined with historic architecture.
The 'emperors' = the series of sculpted heads on pillars that fence The Sheldonian Theatre.
The Clarendon Building = a fine and noble example of English Baroque.
The Radcliffe Camera = Iconic large Rotunda housing a library
