Fruere et Explora: Recommended Reading, January '24
This year, I've set out to create a monthly article where I gush over some of the literary gems I've stumbled upon and adored.
fruere et explora
I believe I stumbled upon this poem while reading through old literary magazines on JSTOR. Fortunately, I took a screenshot of the work and am therefore able to now share it with you. Lovely piece - and concise to boot!
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner — by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
I possess a hereditary obsession with sailors and the yet-to-be-discovered seas. This poem is divided into seven different ‘acts’ and, being rather long, tells the story of an ancient mariner who commits the sin of killing an innocent albatross that followed his ship. It reminds me very much of both Jesus and the Gospels, as well Plato’s story of Socrates. I’m not really sure why those are the stories that come to mind but, nevertheless, they are. I think it has something to do with mercy. . . and perseverance. In any event I highly recommend giving the piece a read; it has a lovely lyrical quality that seems to find its own little corner in your mind to make itself warm in.
I love this poem not only for my preexisting adoration for Kipling, which is so strong it might as well run in my blood, but also for how I found it. Lately I have been given the same bit of advice from a wide variety of people, unconnected, and what they’ve told me resonated in my head, and rings out like an old clock, seemingly on the hour; “Don’t ever doubt yourself.”
And so, while looking for new poems I typed the wise words into my search bar. This poem was the very first result, and it so perfectly encapsulates the message and my own constitution that I fell, immediately, in love. The advice is sage, and timeless.
-by M. Shultz
Intrigued!