Poetry?

Penelope · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

This is what is great about poetry - it can say so much, so many profound and heart-rending things,so beautifully.....in so few words....

If only we could all communicate likewise.

It reminds me of the literature lesson....where we were 'doing' Hamlet's soliloquay.

....whether tis nobler in the mind, to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

...or to take arms against....and end it.

meaning....

I'm really fed up - I think I might top myself........ Laughing

DWill · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

I'll say something really in earnest here (which I usually try to avoid) and seemingly overboard: poetry is like scripture for me.
Right on, Penelope, with your "Kubla Khan" and "Prufrock." I think the ending of "Kubla" is still pretty strong, though: "Beware, beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread, for he on honey-dew hath fed, and drunk the milk of paradise." (Not sure of line breaks.)
"Prufrock" I like partly because I can understand what is going on so much better than in "The Wasteland!" But almost every line of "Prufrock" is memorable. Something funny is that on occasion, when I have felt humiliated or just completly unequal to the situation, I'll say to myself, "I should have been a pair of ragged claws/Scuttling across the floors of silent seas." This actually helps cheer me up!
Saffron, do you like Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verse", too? (Do I have the title right?) I like children's poetry or poems written from a child's point of view (as in some of William Blake's).
DWill

Saffron · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

DWill:

ralphinlaos · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:14 am Post subject:

Saffron, I know that DWill is in southern Virginia so he's probably alright, but I hope you are safe and warm and that the tornado didn't come anywhere near you.

Ralph

Saffron · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:36 am Post subject:

Saffron · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:29 am Post subject:

Penelope wrote:

Indigo · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject:

Indigo · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

Indigo · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

Indigo · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

Haha okay, one more post, since we're talking about "death-affirming" poems. I'm not sure if this fits the category exactly, but it's one of my favorite poems, and certainly my favorite about death.

suppose
Life is an old man carrying flowers on his head.

young death sits in a cafe
smiling, a piece of money held between
his thumb and first finger

(i say "will he buy flowers" to you
and "Death is young
life wears velour trousers
life totters, life has a beard" i

say to you who are silent.--"Do you see
Life? he is there and here,
or that, or this
or nothing or an old man 3 thirds
asleep, on his head
flowers, always crying
to nobody something about les
roses les bluets
yes,
will He buy?
Les belles bottes--oh hear
, pas cheres")

and my love slowly answered I think so. But
I think I see someone else

there is a lady, whose name is Afterwards
she is sitting beside young death, is slender;
likes flowers.

- e. e. cummings

Penelope · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

Right, I just want to impress you all!!!!

About the time that Coleridge was writing Kubla Khan...

Algernon Charles Swinburn was also writing poetry...with the romantics.

I am related to him......we share the same great great grandfather.

My great grandfather was his Uncle.....so work that one out.

I was ever so proud of my relationship to Algernon Charles...until they showed the Victorian Romantics on TV some years ago.....

It seems that he was an absolute nutter.....and a heroin addict.

Still, he did write some great poetry. So what the hell.....I am still boasting. AND - my son, Dan....the man who trains birds of prey....also writes poetry........and has done since the age of about 14 years.

AND....he has been published.

Arty Farty lot we are here in Cheshire. But my husband, Danny's Dad, is an engineer......not the least bit arty farty....despairs of us all.....

Embarassed

Penelope · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

OOOh - Saffron - Dylan Thomas - the naughty...wonderful, gifted....

I love 'Memories of a Child's Christmas in Wales' and I have books and recordings of 'Under Milkwood' by the man himself.

We live close the the Welsh Border.....in fact we have been to Bangor in Wales today......

The Welsh are annoying.....all the roadsigns are in English and in Welsh language.......and Dylan Thomas didn't even speak Welsh.

But they are a wonderful spiritual people....in fact I believe that they are the true ancient Brits.

Do not go Gently......makes me cry....so I don't read it so often. I have a recording of Dylan Thomas reading it himself and that is just.......too much to bare too often. Wink

ralphinlaos · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject:

Well, since we're on the subject of death and dying, I want to get this in before everyone loses interest. This is my very favorite:

RICHARD CORY

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked,
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
And admirably schooled in every grace;
In fine we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer's night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Edwin Arlington Robinson

To be read (and remembered) whenever we feel envious of someone else.

Ralph

Penelope · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

Oh Ralph in Laos....don't....that is a disturbing poem.

I think I prefer Yeats:

An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress...

This reminds me of Kalil Gibran.....(and how often I have passed his book 'The Prophet' on to others) I do commend him.

Does anyone know the Indian poet - Rabindareth Tagore? I have, I think, all of his books. I think the word 'sublime' is a true description of his work.

But, I also think Bob Dylan's songs are poetry and I love Noel Coward....though humorous.....he helps.....to confront what we don't always wish to confront. And maybe that is why I don't care for the rest of Kubla Khan.....maybe I am still a bit too shallow.

Do you like this? Noel Coward......Englishman lampooning the English.

There are bad times just around the corner
The are dark clouds hurtling through the sky
And it's no use whining about a silver lining
'Cos we know from experience that they won't roll by...

With a scowl and a frown, We'll keep our peckers down
And look forward to misery doom and dread.....
We're going unpack our troubles from our old kitbag
And wait until we drop down dead.

Indigo · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:


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