I used to not like poetry. Nowadays I’m “selective” in what I like. Ballad of the White Horse is a personal favorite. Alfred’s monologue near the end has been repeatedly prophetic of the 20th and 21st century. "I know that weeds shall grow in it Faster than men can burn; And though they scatter now and go, In some far century, sad and slow, I have a vision, and I know The heathen shall return. "They shall not come with warships, They shall not waste with brands, But books be all their eating, And ink be on their hands.”

Joy without a cause. That’s the life of hope.

I just checked out a copy of Chesterton’s What's Wrong with the World. Looking forward to more of your readings.

"And he set to rhyme his ale-measures, And he sang aloud his laws" ...something about that line, and the stroke of genius it takes to compose it

This gentleman, reminds me alot of the late John Hurt. The way in which he narrates the story.

It may be more relevant than we know, Malcolm!

Thank you so much! I love this epic poem and am encouraged so often by Chesterton today. Chesterton's relentless assaults on the dehumanizing horrors of the pseudoscientific eugenic philosophy of his day bleeds through in one of Alfred's speeches. "In some far century, sad and slow, I have a vision, and I know The heathen shall return. "They shall not come with warships, They shall not waste with brands, But books be all their eating, And ink be on their hands... "By terror and the cruel tales Of curse in bone and kin, By weird and weakness winning, Accursed from the beginning, By detail of the sinning, And denial of the sin; "By thought a crawling ruin, By life a leaping mire, By a broken heart in the breast of the world, And the end of the world's desire; "By God and man dishonoured, By death and life made vain, Know ye the old barbarian, The barbarian come again- "When is great talk of trend and tide, And wisdom and destiny, Hail that undying heathen That is sadder than the sea. "In what wise men shall smite him, Or the Cross stand up again, Or charity or chivalry, My vision saith not; and I see No more; but now ride doubtfully To the battle of the plain."

A beautiful reading and very poignant 😊 Keep the faith

WONDERFUL, Dr. Guite! Thank you, so much! God bless you!

I began reading this poem recently. A section in Book IV reminded me of George Herbert's Easter poem. The description of God as "a great servant" who "rose before the day" seems to echo Herbert's "but thou wast up by break of day"

Thank you for sharing such meaningful and comforting words 🙂

Just stumbled upon this. This was great!

Thank you One of my favourite poems ...for the White Horse...

Hello from Colombia. I enjoyed your reading, really encouraging. Thanks.

Thank you for these helpful thoughts. They strangely bring more comfort than 'it's all going to be normal soon 'The gates of heaven are lightly locked - we can receive it's 'gold ' even in the dark days of this winter.

Such appropriate poetry for a dire and hopeless 2020! Kind regards, SF.

I am encouraged by this! Thank you.

Stupendous! Thank you.

Can't wait to make time to dwell more into your interesting tales

God bless you sir 🙏

Delightful as always brother.

Your lovely vignettes bring me back to the early days of reading Walter de la Mare (and of course, C.S. Lewis). Please continue, and thank you!

I think I'm going to have to read it again now! Being a war history aficionado, I was delighted to hear of the poem's place in the minds of soldiers and citizens during the wars. Thank you for drawing us back to this as we fight different battles today.

I enjoy listening to your excitement as you talk about and read the poem! Thank you for taking the time to record these videos. (Side comment: My 2 year old son came to see the video when I pulled it up to listen. He took one look and ran off disappearing into my husband's office. When he came back he was wear glasses he found and holding a notebook. I thought it was great, and he is now walking around saying Malcolm Guite.)

Awesome! An audiobook is begging to be made.

As every school boy and girl was taught in the past, Alfred burnt the cakes! ...the Sellar and Yeatman approach to history. The winter ahead does look bleak with the Covid crisis, but we will overcome. The developed world has, perhaps, become a little complacent; this will make us stop and reconsider our values and what's important to us. God bless and keep well.

How can I contact you

What did GKC mean when he said men are men but man is a woman?

Pray for Rebublic. The election is four days away and the nation has not been this divided since 1860. I fear that the nuts on both sides will erupt on Wed.