Today's poet

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Originally Posted by Hes

I can see a housewarming present opportunity here!:)

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well thats very sweet but a gal gotta earn a living! so if you do i'll have to buy another! :)

Quite amazed that my first ever poem has been included in the FRA mag. Thanks for including it, really not expected. I;m surprised how pleased i am about it actually, but don;t worry i won't be shoving it under the noses of all that know me. Lots of really lovely poems there - thanks to you three that did the deed and put those great pages together!

:)

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Originally Posted by Harry H Howgill

The Fell Poets Society present

Simon Armitage

at Dufton Village Hall

15th of July 2010

8pm

The Poet and Writer Simon Armitage will be reading a selection of poetry as he walks the Pennine Way from north to south.

Entry is free but Simon will be passing his hat round at the end of the evening to see if he can fund his walk by performing each night.

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here's the "ad" again

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Originally Posted by Hes

Thanks Stolly, I'm really pleased that you like my prints. I haven't seen the mag yet but a friend tells me that my night-time run poem is in. It might be under my full name. Are you coming to the Simon Armitage gig?

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Hes my subscription to the magazine has stopped..... largely because I have forgotten to actually renew it :rolleyes:. I got emailed a scan from somebody (who shall remain nameless) who obviously did a piss poor job of scanning the whole article.

And I love the way you refer to the Simon Armitage shindig as a 'gig' :D

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Originally Posted by Stolly

Hes my subscription to the magazine has stopped..... largely because I have forgotten to actually renew it :rolleyes:. I got emailed a scan from somebody (who shall remain nameless) who obviously did a piss poor job of scanning the whole article.

And I love the way you refer to the Simon Armitage shindig as a 'gig' :D

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Ahhh, I see, I tried to recognise the poems from the photo of the double page spread that Freckle texted me which was 'challenging'! I'm chuffed to bits with the look of it and my print and can't wait to see it for real tomorrow evening. That's if doesn't jam my door closed and lock me out.

Wasn't sure how to describe the 'do'. Gig makes it sound so rock and roll though, ha ha.:D ...shindig is good too.

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Originally Posted by Hes

Ahhh, I see, I tried to recognise the poems from the photo of the double page spread that Freckle texted me which was 'challenging'! I'm chuffed to bits with the look of it and my print and can't wait to see it for real tomorrow evening. That's if doesn't jam my door closed and lock me out.

Wasn't sure how to describe the 'do'. Gig makes it sound so rock and roll though, ha ha.:D ...shindig is good too.

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Shindig I like. Something fun, yet slightly chaotic I imagine it will be.

I raise a glass of Merlot to the birthday girl. Cheers.

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Originally Posted by freckle

As Herkales outlined...the date for the gig is July 15th, the village hall dufton, FREE but simon wants people to give what they think he is worth....he will be available to sign books and there will be some of his books on sale...we will post more details as and when but essentially some of us are hoping to walk with simon on a bit of his peninne walk, and others will be staying over in or near Dufton on the thursday night and having a "casual" trot around the high cup nick route gthe next day...so if you fancy popping along that would be cool...as for formuties reading their own poetry i had thought that would be a lovely idea, either at the village hall or round a camp fire over a couple of snecklifters (the latter would sit far more easy with my performance anxiety!!!!!!)

for more info re simon's walk see http://www.simonarmitage.com/

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Sounds like a good do to me, the poetry will of course pass straight over the top of my head but i like the sound of the piss up and the High Cup Nick trot. Sounds like a thu/fri off work thing but not a problem i've marked it in the fellrunner calendar for serious consideration.

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Originally Posted by mr brightside

Sounds like a good do to me, the poetry will of course pass straight over the top of my head but i like the sound of the piss up and the High Cup Nick trot. Sounds like a thu/fri off work thing but not a problem i've marked it in the fellrunner calendar for serious consideration.

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It should be a great shindiggy couple of days whether or not you think you'll get the poetry or not. It would be good to see you there.

Fell poet's shindig:
Runner, poet or neither
Everyone welcome

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Originally Posted by Alf

I am very big on despondency and gloom Mossy (though only in my poetry ;) )

and this one (far too long to post here) is the "Daddy" of them all :)

http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Poetry/Elegy.htm

"The paths of glory lead but to the grave." :cool:

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I agree Alf, that poem is pretty heart-rendering, but I'm wondering if I (we) can perhaps find the 'mother' of them all, in the gloom, despondency stakes ...now there's a challenge:D

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Originally Posted by freckle

for lovely hes who i think is near a beach (possibly? my geography is bad!!!!)...hope you are having a fine time...

maggie and milly and molly and may

ee cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea


the fells are cool...but so is the sea! :-) x

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Like it Frecks. "As large as alone' - wow, what a simile:):):)

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Originally Posted by Fleeter

Down at the Factory,
It's the same old news,
Another 8 till 5 just isn't giving me any clues,
At least come 5,
I'll be running away the blues

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An as its a Friday Fleeter, I hope you'll be running some distance too - cheers:)

Haworth Hobble race
Withens, Widdop, Stoodley Pike
yikes, it's tomorrow!

:eek::D

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

Haworth Hobble race
Withens, Widdop, Stoodley Pike
yikes, it's tomorrow!

:eek::D

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No BG, this year, for me,
A Hobble will do,
Stoodley Pike for the view:D

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Originally Posted by merrylegs

No BG, this year, for me,
A Hobble will do,
Stoodley Pike for the view:D

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Best of luck Merry and DT.:)

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Originally Posted by Mossdog

Best of luck Merry and DT.:)

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Cheers Mossy, have a good weekend;)

I watched the film Bright Star last night about John Keats and Fanny Brawne
and as Mrs Reynold's cat appeared in most scenes I thought I would post this sonnet. :D


To Mrs Reynolds' Cat

Cat! who hast pass’d thy grand climacteric,
How many mice and rats hast in thy days
Destroy’d? How many tit bits stolen? Gaze
With those bright languid segments green, and prick
Those velvet ears - but pr’ythee do not stick
Thy latent talons in me - and upraise
Thy gentle mew - and tell me all thy frays,
Of fish and mice, and rats and tender chick.
Nay, look not down, nor lick thy dainty wrists -
For all thy wheezy asthma - and for all
Thy tail’s tip is nick’d off - and though the fists
Of many a maid have given thee many a maul,
Still is that fur as soft, as when the lists
In youth thou enter’dest on glass bottled wall

John Keats

I came across this moving piece on the radio the other evening - so many jaw-dropping lines it's hard to know where to start.....


There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the bible like a preacher
Full of ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on

He ruled the Russian land and never mind the czar
But the kasachok he danced really wunderbar
In all affairs of state he was the man to please
But he was real great when he had a girl to squeeze
For the queen he was no wheeler dealer
Though she'd heard the things he'd done
She believed he was a holy healer
Who would heal her son

(Spoken:)
But when his drinking and lusting and his hunger
for power became known to more and more people,
the demands to do something about this outrageous
man became louder and louder.

"This man's just got to go!" declared his enemies
But the ladies begged "Don't you try to do it, please"
No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms
Though he was a brute they just fell into his arms
Then one night some men of higher standing
Set a trap, they're not to blame
"Come to visit us" they kept demanding
And he really came

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They put some poison into his wine
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
He drank it all and he said "I feel fine"

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They didn't quit, they wanted his head
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
And so they shot him till he was dead

(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians...



"but to the Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear..." I ask you!

You star. How can any other piece of poetry possibly grace this thread now this has been posted. It is the epitome of poetic beauty.

"It was a shame how he carried on" - Brilliant!

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Originally Posted by Old Whippet

I came across this moving piece on the radio the other evening - so many jaw-dropping lines it's hard to know where to start.....


There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the bible like a preacher
Full of ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on

He ruled the Russian land and never mind the czar
But the kasachok he danced really wunderbar
In all affairs of state he was the man to please
But he was real great when he had a girl to squeeze
For the queen he was no wheeler dealer
Though she'd heard the things he'd done
She believed he was a holy healer
Who would heal her son

(Spoken:)
But when his drinking and lusting and his hunger
for power became known to more and more people,
the demands to do something about this outrageous
man became louder and louder.

"This man's just got to go!" declared his enemies
But the ladies begged "Don't you try to do it, please"
No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms
Though he was a brute they just fell into his arms
Then one night some men of higher standing
Set a trap, they're not to blame
"Come to visit us" they kept demanding
And he really came

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They put some poison into his wine
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
He drank it all and he said "I feel fine"

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They didn't quit, they wanted his head
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
And so they shot him till he was dead

(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians...



"but to the Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear..." I ask you!

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At Howarth Hobble
two published fell poets
chat poems and fame

:D

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

At Howarth Hobble
two published fell poets
chat poems and fame

:D

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And resist the dogs
And feel guilty
But remain bald:D

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Originally Posted by Harry H Howgill

You star. How can any other piece of poetry possibly grace this thread now this has been posted. It is the epitome of poetic beauty.

"It was a shame how he carried on" - Brilliant!

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aye - never a more trenchant criticism to capture the murderous, sordid and machievellian behaviour of 'the mad monk'

"But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear".....makes Naruda sound like Bernard Manning

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Originally Posted by Old Whippet

"But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear".....makes Naruda sound like Bernard Manning

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Ha ha! :D I suspect i heard same show as you OW. Simon Mayo's history themed tea-time prog in Wed or Thurs iirc :)

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

Ha ha! :D I suspect i heard same show as you OW. Simon Mayo's history themed tea-time prog in Wed or Thurs iirc :)

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Yep. Never has such a bad song put such a broad smile on my homeward bound face. On hearing it, I felt it belonged here.

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Originally Posted by Old Whippet

Yep. Never has such a bad song put such a broad smile on my homeward bound face. On hearing it, I felt it belonged here.

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About six or seven years ago I was in the lab of a textile mill near Saigon in Vietnam and it was Friday afternoon. Around 3pm the staff started cleaning the lab and put a cassette of Boney M's greatest hits on on their radio cassette player. I loved it and could have cried at something so familiar a very long way from home! :)

The Mountains They Are A Lonely Folk – Hamlin Garland

The mountains they are silent folk
They stand afar — alone,
And the clouds that kiss their brows at night
Hear neither sigh nor groan.
Each bears him in his ordered place
As soldiers do, and bold and high
They fold their forests round their feet
And bolster up the sky.

Hi DT and Merry. Hope the Hobble went well for you both today. I thought of you two as I covered the relatively meagre distance of the Mallerstang and Nine Standards Yomp this pm (23 miles 4352 feet). I'm guessing you had blue skies and patchy snow too - and loads of plovers - lovely.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Harry H Howgill

The Mountains They Are A Lonely Folk – Hamlin Garland

The mountains they are silent folk
They stand afar — alone,
And the clouds that kiss their brows at night
Hear neither sigh nor groan.
Each bears him in his ordered place
As soldiers do, and bold and high
They fold their forests round their feet
And bolster up the sky.

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I like that HHH - never heard of Hamlin Garland before.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Old Whippet

aye - never a more trenchant criticism to capture the murderous, sordid and machievellian behaviour of 'the mad monk'

"But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear".....makes Naruda sound like Bernard Manning

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Aye but if he'd lived in Wales - it would have been BA BA RASPUTIN - er...sorry:o

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Originally Posted by Mossdog

Aye but if he'd lived in Wales - it would have been BA BA RASPUTIN - er...sorry:o

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Like it:D
Bony Mutton did another sheepish song called Ba Baker did they not;)

Fell Runner.

I enter the ancient land,
A warrior waiting to do battle,
Stone walls tower above,
My heart races,
Rain drips from my brow,
Thor smashes Mjollnir,
In the black sky above the fells,
I look up to pay my respect,
To the thunder god and to the hills,
The marshall gives the signal,
We flow up the hill legs pumping,
Lungs bursting like a human,
Kinder Downfall,
Our time has come.

By Herakles

Good one Herakles.

Have been a bit of a stranger to the forum of late - life calls :o.

Can't believe the pace of this thread. Will take me ages to catch up, but with the quality of contributions I'am sure this will be a treat not a chore — thanks to all.

Quickly glancing through and I'd like to mention Herakles poem of thanks and also Hes your Haiku

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Originally Posted by Hes

with the setting sun
my running mate grows taller
and then she is gone

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really liked this.

Hes can I just mention how beautiful your prints are, I know this has been said before, one more time can't do any harm. A computer cannot do them justice; but even still they seem to lift out of the screen. I will endeavour to see an exhibition to see them in all their glory. Art is a passion of mine and you are truly both a visual and literal poet.

HHH thanks for introducing me to Hamlin Garland.

And not forgetting Boney M :D:D:D.

Getting late now but here's a thought for the morning.

Morning thought
Morning on t'fells; a wry smile greets an old friend;
few ailments that crisp, cool breeze can't mend.

Nature's shower freshens sullen pace;
sprightly steps follows gentle rain across the face.

And as first light peeps into the valleys wake;
ticking hands; reminder of the strife such moments break.

To inspire all senses, there ain't a finer thing;
a journey to discover to this day, what we'll bring.

Chubbs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chubbs

Getting late now but here's a thought for the morning.

Morning thought
Morning on t'fells; a wry smile greets an old friend;
few ailments that crisp, cool breeze can't mend.

Nature's shower freshens sullen pace;
sprightly steps follows gentle rain across the face.

And as first light peeps into the valleys wake;
ticking hands; reminder of the strife such moments break.

To inspire all senses, there ain't a finer thing;
a journey to discover to this day, what we'll bring.

Chubbs.

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Chubbs, that is a truly marvelous poem - many, many thanks:)

T'is but a pleasure. Thank you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Herakles

Fell Runner.

I enter the ancient land,
A warrior waiting to do battle,
Stone walls tower above,
My heart races,
Rain drips from my brow,
Thor smashes Mjollnir,
In the black sky above the fells,
I look up to pay my respect,
To the thunder god and to the hills,
The marshall gives the signal,
We flow up the hill legs pumping,
Lungs bursting like a human,
Kinder Downfall,
Our time has come.

By Herakles

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I really appreciate these Norse inspired metaphors Master Herakles (sorry forgot to congratulate you on your ascendncy to the master 'race':D)

I seem to recall from a WEA night class on Norse History that I attended many moons ago, that Norse leaders not only had to be proficient in battle but also had to poetic ability - as this essential skills was seen as a measure of their intelligence too. After all, they didn't simply want some thug who could swing a battle axe mindlessly leading them. So, Herky - you would have been in with your element and 'in the running':)

Hes, I missed this, but thanks to Chubbs have now had a chance to reply - it's a really great Haiku, well done:)

Originally Posted by Hes

with the setting sun
my running mate grows taller
and then she is gone

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mossdog

I seem to recall from a WEA night class on Norse History that I attended many moons ago, that Norse leaders not only had to be proficient in battle but also had to poetic ability - as this essential skills was seen as a measure of their intelligence too. After all, they didn't simply want some thug who could swing a battle axe mindlessly leading them. So, Herky - you would have been in with your element and 'in the running':)

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An acute observation Mossdog. I find it interesting how closely the arts have been linked to warcraft historically as with the Samurai culture. Maybe a Yin and Yang thing; an aspect of being proficient in creating beauty as well as destroying it — balance?

Thank you for your kind words. I agree there does seem to be a link between war and myth and art in the ancient times.

Mothering Sunday already. Despite the commercialism argument, one for all those deserved folk.

The Pedestal
T'is only you that thinks your pedestal comes but once a year;
that look, in doting child's eyes knows, no one else is as dear.

Though its never said, your time and love has never been more cherished;
signs of wear, you do not share, when strained and often 'perished'.

As time goes on, your daughter; son; you feel they've had enough.
They may fly but do not cry, that pedestal you've not once stood off.

Chubbs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mossdog

Hi DT and Merry. Hope the Hobble went well for you both today. I thought of you two as I covered the relatively meagre distance of the Mallerstang and Nine Standards Yomp this pm (23 miles 4352 feet). I'm guessing you had blue skies and patchy snow too - and loads of plovers - lovely.:)

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Hey Mossy, I think we both enjoyed it :) Your Yomp recce with added plover interest sounds like my idea of fun. Thought I might have heard a Golden Plover up by Withins but it could have been Emily B's ghost ;) Hobble route has quite a bit of poetic interest as it also passes briefly through Heptonstall, where Sylvia Plath is buried. Blue skies, yes, but very little snow left now down here