[Jim Moonan]

"That strikes me as a somewhat sad poem, Erik. I don't think one gets a sense of euphoria from wishing one were young and vital again instead of a prattling old politician among politicians." --Roger

So... the question is can euphoria arise from sadness? I think it can.

[Roger Slater]

Well, I acknowledge that happiness and sadness are sometimes close cousins, or, as in Rose's poem, flipsides, but an old man wishing he were young and vital again, and finding his current occupation to be empty and unfulfilling, hardly fits my definition of euphoria. Or at the very least, even if I could optimistically squeeze a silver lining out of it, it's not a poem I would point to as a classic example of euphoria.

[Jim Moonan]

Yes, no doubt about it -- I had meant to agree that Eric's James Merrill poem is second-hand euphoria at best if there is even such a thing (sorry Eric).
The "blessed blaze" you posted (Yeats' Vacillation) conveys a true, transcendent euphoria IMO.

Music is very good at evoking the big E...
We could go there...
This is a remarkable performance; one that sends me to the brink.

[Roger Slater]

This is pretty happy too.

[Erik Olson]

Ok, I am guilty as charged of having posted not a 'classic' example of euphoria. I never meant to post a classic example but to add an unexpected one. So what can I say? Sorry.

[Roger Slater]

Nothing to apologize for, Erik. (But if apologizing gives you euphoria, then go for it).

[RCL]

Thanks, Jim. I did a major overhaul and it will be on The New Verse News tomorrow! That is, Sunday.

https://newversenews.blogspot.com/