7/8
II suggest you read this sonnet in tandem with “Prime,” one of the sonnets in the sonnet sequence about Parry in the general Encyclopedia Sonnetica.]
“Jerusalem” and “I was glad” have made
Us think of him as if he were no more
Than straight-up English mainstream, yet he played
With oddity from early on. 4/4
Was boring, really. It had shuffling weight.
It had a strolling plod at best. He tried
His hand across the page at 7/8
Though only briefly. Later he applied
Himself to Germany again and even reached
To Wagner at a time when others balked.
The growing Parry clasped the great and breached
Tradition while his fellows simply walked.
The boy was playful with his timings and
His words. He was not destined for the bland.