Today's poet

[Harry H Howgill]

morning tri...as usual an elegant piece from you well done...


Last night as i was sleeping

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I slept,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

Antonio Machado

could always replace God with something else if an atheist like me!!!!!

Interesting last point there Freckle. At one time I would have worried about referencing "God", (assume it is the Christian / Jewish / Muslim one that most of us think about when that term is used for now), as I would have considered it a nod to the acknowledgement of its existance when clearly there is insufficient evidence to the existance of any supernatural sky god. (I'd love Thor to be real by the way. He'd be great at parties!) But "God" is so part of our culture whether in poetry, song or architecture that it is hard not to stumble upon references. Being a non believer doesn't stop me loving great poetry, or amazing church architecture, or Christmas carols for that matter. And if asked how I can I possibly do that, I normally reply: "Well, I can watch Coronation Street without believing that any of it is true."

[Harry H Howgill]

sunlit homebound drive
paint splattered ewes graze wet turf
redwing flock scatters

Nice one DT. I looked at that and thought that your middle line is never 7; but by jove it is!

[Derby Tup]

Splattered is not the most poetic word in the English language but is good 'value' in haiku!

Nice one DT. I looked at that and thought that your middle line is never 7; but by jove it is!

[Harry H Howgill]

speaking of which, how apt is this like?...dedicated to all those who frequent this thread....

Poetry

And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.

I did not know what to say, my mouth
had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.

Pablo Neruda </B>

I just bought "Best Poems on the Underground" today and I'd chosen this very one to share tonight. But you jolly went and beat me to it.

So I'll share this one instead...

Happiness
A state you dare not enter
with hopes of staying,
quicksand in the marshes, and all

the roads leading to a castle
that doesn’t exist.
But there it is, as promised,

with its perfect bridge above
the crocodiles,
and its doors forever open.

Stephen Dunn

[Harry H Howgill]

Splattered is not the most poetic word in the English language but is good 'value' in haiku!

ha ha. What other good value words are out there. We'll have to see how many letters we can possibly fit in one haiku.

Maybe later, I'm still catching up from last night.

[Harry H Howgill]

Wow...I'm the only person on the entire forum!!! I could go and write on every thread and make a bid for forum domination except that doesn't interest me. My loyalty lies here and with all your great posts this evening. I loved the Neruda, Mossdog; the Rollinson HHH and Freckle's lovely poems to change your life. Poetry does indeed change your life! Off for a few hours sleep.

Quite right it can alter life's course! All for the better I hope.

I ordered 10 poems to change your life last night off ebay, but at this rate I'll have heard them all before it arrives!

[Harry H Howgill]

High Cup Nick, Aniversary Waltz,
Allendale Challenge, Windy Gyle, Cheviot Summit,
Chevy Chase or Wasdale Horseshoe, Borrowdale, Ben Nevis (if i can get in)
Langdale, Simonside and what ever the club decides for the championships.

Not a poem, but this poets provisional intentions for next year.....any of you poetic scamperers drinking beer before or after (not during - even I have some standards) these races???

That could easily become a poem OW, there are some very poetic-sounding hills and races out there. I've only done AW once but loved the whole atmosphere, (and still have the mug), so I would like to do it again, and Langdale was one of my favourite ever races. It wasn't my best ever result, but it was one of the performances I was most proud of. Like most years I'll just wing it, which means missing out of most of the heavily subscribed pre entry ones, but hey ho. There are plenty of great races out there.

We should organise a Fell Poets Society Club Champs.

[Harry H Howgill]

Medication.

Two tablets of lithium 1000 mg,
To keep me level emotionally,
Venlafaxine two capsules 300 mg and red,
To stop me from going off of my head,
Lastly four tablets 250 mg of seroquel,
To stop me seeing gargoyles and creatures from hell,
This is what it takes everyday to keep me sane,
Shhh don't tell the doctors i pour them down the drain.

By Matt Harmston

Disclaimer: All above is true except for the last line in case my consultant is reading this.

I like your sense of humour TM.

[Harry H Howgill]

lordy - I forgot this is a poetry corner.

Old Whippet is in a hurry
Out with his mates for a curry
With a hot vindaloo
And a strong pint or too
Tomorrow's long run is a worry.

if in doubt - limerick

Back later.

"If in doubt - Limerick" is my favourite quote of the day.

[Harry H Howgill]

This one tickled me...

The uncertainty of the poet - Wendy Cope

I am a poet,
I am very fond of bananas.

I am bananas,
I am very fond of a poet.

I am a poet of bananas.
I am very fond.

A fond poet of 'I am, I am' -
Very bananas.

Fond of Am I bananas?
Am I? - a very poet.

Bananas of a poet!
Am I fond? Am I very?

Poet bananas! I am
I am fond of a 'very'.

I am of very fond bananas.
Am I a poet?