Poetry?

Saffron · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

Penelope,
The John Fuller poem was very fun! I love that it begins in the shower.

Saffron

Penelope · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: FOOT IN MOUTH - An Apology

Oh Dear - Oh Dear.........I work on my computer most days......and this morning I thought I would enjoy reading some of the Poetry thread before I began my work. Then I noticed what I had written on 23rd May, last. And I got such a sinking feeling!!!!!!!

Ralph in Laos - I do owe you an apology. My first thought was to send you a pm, then I thought, no, I must apologise so that the others know I realise I made a bad judgement.

I am inclined to write in colloquialisms because I think that makes for livelier debate......write it as you speak. I have taken this a bit too far in that post.

The debate was becoming a trifle intimate....wasn't it? Ralph was joking about being able to buy Pheromones at the Chemist..........and I wrote....Bugger Off......well, here in the North of England.....Bugger Off is a coloquialism for 'I don't agree with you' and it doesn't mean, 'Go Away' as perhaps you interpreted it. It was a very clumsy and thoughtless thing to write and I am sorry.

Fortunately, Ralph knows that because of the work he does in Laos, I hold him in the highest esteem and would not wish to insult him. However, I am sorry and I will be much, much more careful in the future.

Please accept my apology Ralph.

ralphinlaos · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

Well, I didn't bugger off, as you can all see. It would take a lot worse than that to shut me up (particularly when you use that polite British language; I'm much more accustomed to hearing STFU - I hope you don't know what that means, Penny).

I just thought it was getting a little hot in here, so I took a break.

Now, if I could just find a poem that fits the occasion . . .

Ralph

Saffron · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject:

Ralph:

Penelope · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

Well, Philip Larkin did a lot of swearing in his poems.

As did Auden........

I know, I'll dig out my John Betjmann - fun poems, jolly and above all, polite!!! Smile

Saffron · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
by Emily Dickinson

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
Occasionally rides—
You may have met him? Did you not
His notice instant is—

The Grass divides as with a Comb—
A spotted Shaft is seen,
And then it closes at your Feet
And opens further on—

He likes a Boggy Acre—
A floor too cool for Corn—
But when a Boy and Barefoot
I more than once at Noon

Have passed I thought a Whip Lash
Unbraiding in the Sun
When stooping to secure it
It wrinkled And was gone—

Several of Nature's People
I know and they know me
I feel for them a transport
Of Cordiality

But never met this Fellow
Attended or alone
Without a tighter Breathing
And Zero at the Bone.

Saffron · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: Emily Dickenson

I swear I was trying to get away from the previous theme in the thread. I turned to Emily Dickens. Safe right, apparently not. Wow! I had no idea.

Wild nights!—wild nights!
by Emily Dickinson

Wild nights—wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port—
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart!

Rowing in Eden—
Ah, the sea!
Might I moor, tonight,
In thee!

ralphinlaos · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 3:36 am Post subject:

Saffron -

I thought I knew all about Emily Dickinson; she's always been one of my favorites. But no, I'd never read that one.

I wonder who she was thinking of? The Reverend from Boston she was supposedly infatuated with? I don't know of any other romantic liaisons - real or imagined. Do you?

Ralph

Saffron · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:12 am Post subject:

Penelope · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:39 am Post subject:

I got Emily Dickinson mixed up with Ella Wheeler Wilcox....both American.

Whilst I was looking up what you were discussing, I found this. An old favourite of mine......

Though with gods the world is cumbered,
Gods unnamed, and gods unnumbered,
Never god was known to be
Who had not his devotee.
So I dedicate to mine,
Here in verse, my temple-shrine.

‘Tis not Ares, - mighty Mars,
Who can give success in wars.
‘Tis not Morpheus, who doth keep
Guard above us while we sleep,
‘Tis not Venus, she whose duty
‘Tis to give us love and beauty;
Hail to these, and others, after
Momus, gleesome god of laughter.

Quirinus would guard my health,
Plutus would insure me wealth;
Mercury looks after trade,
Hera smiles on youth and maid.
All are kind, I own their worth,
After Momus, god of mirth.

Though Apollo, out of spite,
Hides away his face of light,
Though Minerva looks askance,
Deigning me no smiling glance,
Kings and queens may envy me
While I claim the god of glee.

Wisdom wearies, Love had wings –
Wealth makes burdens, Pleasure stings,
Glory proves a thorny crown –
So all gifts the gods throw down
Bring their pains and troubles after;
All save Momus, god of laughter.
He alone gives constant joy.
Hail to Momus, happy boy.


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