pick one of your poems and tell me all about it

[greenmountaineer]

Fascinating thread, not just for you, but me and everyone.

Janice (and i must say the name is pronounced JA-niece) is about my mothers death. I took pains to write it as she was dying and I think I really encompassed both the manner in which she died and the feelings I had at the time. A good poem or not? Well, I suppose that depends on perspective. It's a poem that still helps people and inspires them after all these years, and yes... I think it's a good poem.

It is a most beautiful poem.

 

[bflagsst]

I think insulting people is a really poor use of poetry so I do also get rubbed the wrong way by mockery in poems. To me it is like using a beautiful vase as a spitoon. I mean, I suppose people probably need spitoons, but why not just use a paper cup? Why make ugly something otherwise capable of making some much needed beauty in an ugly world?

Interesting poem, B.

The Irish had a special poetic form called a rann, a type of quatrain with a very popular sub genre of satire that was often used to ridicule whoever the authority was at the time, including the Church. Insults and even blasphemy dressed in poetry was probably their only way of safely criticizing whoever the rulers were at the time. The story goes there was one bard who recited a rann so insulting and embarrassing to the king that he died the same day of shame.

The Norse Edda LOKASENNA is basically just epic blasphemy and insults, but it's okay because it's Loki criticizing the ruling mythology, calling everyone sluts and imbeciles, and not just some group of lowly bards using their art form to comment on the very real rulers.

The mockery of Wallace Stevens and Billy Collins rubbed me the wrong way because they were singling out regular people and I thought it was petty. I felt like my poem was a worthy challenge, even though neither poet will likely ever read it.

 

[PandoraGlitters]

The mockery of Wallace Stevens and Billy Collins rubbed me the wrong way because they were singling out regular people and I thought it was petty. I felt like my poem was a worthy challenge, even though neither poet will likely ever read it.

I agree that mocking regular people is petty. Kings, fine. The pope, Pepsi-Co, whatever. But the gal next door just because she took your parking spot? Or another poet because he/she is getting more attention than one? Sorta silly. In fact, petty is the perfect word.

Actually I much prefer Sharon Olds to Billy Collins for exactly that reason. She uses quite lowly subjects sometimes and is able to show the beauty in them. Even her book of poetry about her husband at the time of their parting never truly was mocking or cruel. She has such a lovely tone. You do, too.

 

[Angeline]

I agree that mocking regular people is petty. Kings, fine. The pope, Pepsi-Co, whatever. But the gal next door just because she took your parking spot? Or another poet because he/she is getting more attention than one? Sorta silly. In fact, petty is the perfect word.

Actually I much prefer Sharon Olds to Billy Collins for exactly that reason. She uses quite lowly subjects sometimes and is able to show the beauty in them. Even her book of poetry about her husband at the time of their parting never truly was mocking or cruel. She has such a lovely tone. You do, too.

I read that Billy Collins paradelle (a form that I know he made up) years ago and tried to write one myself. I was crazy then: it worked out about as well as his did.

And I know exactly what you mean, Dora. There is so much to write about, so many subjects and experiences that I know translate to poetry. But my petty, momentary jealousies about someone else's poem or about a life of which I know nothing...not so much. It just seems like a waste of time to me. I suppose some people can get good poetry that way, but not me. It's like negative reinforcement to me; it has the opposite effect.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

ok then show us this paradelle (tho after Chippy's comment I can never see the right word either now!) we haven't had a challenge for ages ...... will probably rue that later

 

[Angeline]

ok then show us this paradelle (tho after Chippy's comment I can never see the right word either now!) we haven't had a challenge for ages ...... will probably rue that later

I don't have mine, at least not on this computer, and after the move well lol it's on a disk somewhere upstairs in my eventual office. There are currently still many boxes in it.

But let me see if I can find you Billy's. And don't even try to write one cause it's an exercise in futility, which is sort of the point of his poem.

Aha! Found it on the first try:

Billy Collins: Paradelle for Susan

I remember the quick, nervous bird of your love.
I remember the quick, nervous bird of your love.
Always perched on the thinnest, highest branch.
Always perched on the thinnest, highest branch.
Thinnest love, remember the quick branch.
Always nervous, I perched on your highest bird the.
—
It is time for me to cross the mountain.
It is time for me to cross the mountain.
And find another shore to darken with my pain.
And find another shore to darken with my pain.
Another pain for me to darken the mountain.
And find the time, cross my shore, to with it is to.
—
The weather warm, the handwriting familiar.
The weather warm, the handwriting familiar.
Your letter flies from my hand into the waters below.
Your letter flies from my hand into the waters below.
The familiar waters below my warm hand.
Into handwriting your weather flies you letter the from the.
—
I always cross the highest letter, the thinnest bird.
Below the waters of my warm familiar pain,
Another hand to remember your handwriting.
The weather perched for me on the shore.
Quick, your nervous branch flew from love.
Darken the mountain, time and find was my into it was with to to.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Hmmmmmm write a spreadsheet for that lol

 

[UnderYourSpell]

If I was clever enough I had in my mind (until I regained my senses) to write one of those that read the same backwatds as forwards

 

[Angeline]

If I was clever enough I had in my mind (until I regained my senses) to write one of those that read the same backwatds as forwards

You know I'm pretty sure that Tess once wrote a backwards (and, by definition, forwards) double acrostic. And I don't think she uses spreadsheets, either. Scary, huh?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

You know I'm pretty sure that Tess once wrote a backwards (and, by definition, forwards) double acrostic. And I don't think she uses spreadsheets, either. Scary, huh?

*gulp* I'm glad she didn't tell Lauren before Survivor!

 

[Angeline]

*gulp* I'm glad she didn't tell Lauren before Survivor!

She's a modest one.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

She's a modest one.

true although I was thinking of my own neck lol

 

[Angeline]

true although I was thinking of my own neck lol

You have a lovely neck, and lest we forget you won Survivor. But you know when I think back to the first poems you wrote here, I should have known you'd be really good with form. You are naturally a very lyrical poet, imo.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

You have a lovely neck, and lest we forget you won Survivor. But you know when I think back to the first poems you wrote here, I should have known you'd be really good with form. You are naturally a very lyrical poet, imo.

Awwwww thank you ..... you know how to make a girl feel good I must admit I have always found rhyming form easy but I'm glad you showed me there are other ways to write

 

[Angeline]

Awwwww thank you ..... you know how to make a girl feel good I must admit I have always found rhyming form easy but I'm glad you showed me there are other ways to write

Well we just provided other examples, and you were eager to learn because you're smart and curious. But the cool thing is that you incorporated it all into your own style, which is the best someone can do. you know? That's what growth is all about.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I've just started putting together some poems for children see if I can get a publisher interested in a troll with a cough lol

 

[Angeline]

I've just started putting together some poems for children see if I can get a publisher interested in a troll with a cough lol

Oooh congrats, Annie! Have you got a copy of the Poet's Market? It comes out each year and has all sorts of publishing information (including journals, agents, publishers, contests). The one I know of is geared toward the USA, but I'll bet there's an English equivalent. It's an easy way to have alot of that info in one place.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[CharleyH]

ok then show us this paradelle (tho after Chippy's comment I can never see the right word either now!) we haven't had a challenge for ages ...... will probably rue that later

A challenge? I can certainly post one before I go on vacation! Gunfight? Annie vs - hm - Nerk, maybe? How's about it?

Edit to add: SEXay!

 

[nerk]

Fascinating thread, not just for you, but me and everyone.

Janice (and i must say the name is pronounced JA-niece) is about my mothers death. I took pains to write it as she was dying and I think I really encompassed both the manner in which she died and the feelings I had at the time. A good poem or not? Well, I suppose that depends on perspective. It's a poem that still helps people and inspires them after all these years, and yes... I think it's a good poem.

after days of trying to think of something to say about this:
brave and powerful

 

[nerk]

A challenge? I can certainly post one before I go on vacation! Gunfight? Annie vs - hm - Nerk, maybe? How's about it?

Edit to add: SEXay!

a gunfight?

one...


two...


three...


DRAW!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Oooh congrats, Annie! Have you got a copy of the Poet's Market? It comes out each year and has all sorts of publishing information (including journals, agents, publishers, contests). The one I know of is geared toward the USA, but I'll bet there's an English equivalent. It's an easy way to have alot of that info in one place.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

I have nooooooo idea how to go about any or it I just know the suitable poems are pouring out right now and going down on paper !!
I have ideas for illustrations but doubt whether I am up to them I haven't touched a paintbrush for years

A challenge? I can certainly post one before I go on vacation! Gunfight? Annie vs - hm - Nerk, maybe? How's about it?

Edit to add: SEXay!

I am nottttttttt writing a bloody paradiddle!!

 

[nerk]

A challenge? I can certainly post one before I go on vacation! Gunfight? Annie vs - hm - Nerk, maybe? How's about it?

Edit to add: SEXay!

*points to CharleyH*
She made me do it.
(by saying that, I am keeping in the spirit of the thread ... technically)

A Paradelle, With Apologies to All Who Read It

When you can see me coming, hide
When you can see me coming, hide
lie low, until I pass your secret
lie low, until I pass your secret
until you can lie to me, hide
low secret pass, I see you coming

pour the wine and set the table
pour the wine and set the table
make all welcome for your loving wife
make all welcome for your loving wife
welcome, for all the wine loving set
pour, and make your wife the table

In the darkened depths of Mordor
In the darkened depths of Mordor
I met a girl so fair, yeah
I met a girl so fair, yeah
yeah, I darkened a girl of Mordor
fair, so in the depths I met

your secret wife, so welcome the table.
To Mordor! Yeah! and pour me depths.
I darkened loving and met you low
When for all of a set, until
I see you pass the wine, can
I make the fair girl lie coming?

 

[butters]

*points to CharleyH*
She made me do it.
(by saying that, I am keeping in the spirit of the thread ... technically)

A Paradelle, With Apologies to All Who Read It

When you can see me coming, hide
When you can see me coming, hide
lie low, until I pass your secret
lie low, until I pass your secret
until you can lie to me, hide
low secret pass, I see you coming

pour the wine and set the table
pour the wine and set the table
make all welcome for your loving wife
make all welcome for your loving wife
welcome, for all the wine loving set
pour, and make your wife the table

In the darkened depths of Mordor
In the darkened depths of Mordor
I met a girl so fair, yeah
I met a girl so fair, yeah
yeah, I darkened a girl of Mordor
fair, so in the depths I met

your secret wife, so welcome the table.
To Mordor! Yeah! and pour me depths.
I darkened loving and met you low
When for all of a set, until
I see you pass the wine, can
I make the fair girl lie coming?

bravo!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I still ain't doing one!!!

 

[butters]

I still ain't doing one!!!

you can do it, annie *gets yer gun*