The Canon, a poem by Glenn J Lea

I wrote a little poem called The Canon during university. A Canon means the acceptable, standard literature of a specific genre. English Literature in academia has an accepted list of stories, poems and plays which an English Lit student must read understand Western culture and civilization.

I had to read and analyze Shakespeare, Milton, Woodsworth, Shelly, Faulkner, and a hundred other famous writers in the Anglo-Saxon world. Thinking about these required readings, I started wondering why I had to read and understand this literature. I asked myself why must I learn this, how does it help me and is it giving me insights into life I didn’t know before? Turns out, this literature does provide an explanation to this shared culture we call Western civilization. Has it brought us any closer to understanding the “Truth” about life, about how we go about making and maintaining society?

Not sure.

Doubtlessly, I know Western Civilization has produced some great literature. Yet this literature has its origins from in ancient societies. But this literature provides a glimpse into the meaning of life as seen through many windows. It is worth knowing.

For me, a former carpenter turned writer, I saw a glimpse of this shared culture through one book - the Norton Anthology of English Literature. I still have my Norton Anthology. It is a bit dog-eared. I kept it because it has been well read and it has my enlightened annotations next to many of the poems and stories therein.

The Canon

Corpse, have you considered your own body?

You the hallowed, holy, hearty Carcass

Called the sacred "Norton Anthology".

Looking through smoked glass believing it clear,

The panes of the Norton dimly show "truth";

Something so longed for; allusive as air.

From Frye's archetypical book of Books,

From whose panes English Culture

He said derives now its "origin, strength and core";

"What is Truth?" asked a now troubled solder;

He for all the Robe'd inquisitors;

Was this Pilate-without-oars given ear?

This record of their interrogation

Leaves English, perhaps all Human culture

Wanting - for a man gave him no answer.

"What is Truth?" For an answer came a

Silence that seems louder than we can hear,

Louder than at least you Norton can hear.

Thus for Milton, Woodsworth, Shelly or Blake,

If Western culture's "greatest influence"

Remained silent at the Soldier's request

How can robes of the honoured academy

Find answers from inferior minds who

"Through Eden took their Solitary Way"

Corpse, have you considered your own body?

Copyright © 1990-2021 Glenn J. Lea