You, who deserted Tyne for Thames, became
Dissenter from dissenters on choosing
Physic rather than faith and saw Reason
Enough to ally with Pope against Church
In all tendentious denominations.
Time now to kindle interest in your verse,
Those pleasures of the imagination
You measured in lines precise as scalpel
Incisions, going to such lengths to cure
Souls and instruct those willing to become
Students of wisdom’s anatomy. For
Enlightenment driving away shadows
From darkened minds revealed revelation
As inferior to experience.
Nature is the sacred text the poet
Reads and draws out the lessons modern eyes
Can clearly see for themselves, however
Difficult appears the poem at first.
Dave Alton