Thanks for that Paul! An old colleague of mine loved Stanley Holloway. Brought a load of (mostly) happy memories backOriginally Posted by Antisocial
Thanks for that Paul! An old colleague of mine loved Stanley Holloway. Brought a load of (mostly) happy memories back
Poacher turned game-keeper
Aw thanks this is lovely...reference to woolworth's quite poignant i felt!...i miss woolies this xmas!...nowts sacred!
Weightless
U-n-d-e-r,
treacherous currents of
change, awaits
a s(c)t(a)i(l)l(m)l
lake,
surrounded by the wood (of you)
Waiting, patiently
For your tired limbs,
To float upon
weightless...
christmas is a funny old time...everyone expected to be jolly etc and there is no denying it can be a lot of fun...but the sadness and loss in people's lives is accentuated by these expectations and brought into sharp focus i think...
remember michael rosen?...the children's poet laurete who write's all those really funny children's poems? I was in the library today inbetween xmas shopping and came across a selection of his other poems, written for an adult audience. Apparently he was inspired to publish such work after the sudden and unexpected death of his 13 year old son...this poem clearly refers to this...I found it really moving so I thought I would share it even though it contradicts how jolly we "should" all be feeling right now.....i love his really straightforward way of writing....
Could I have imagined anything like
the sight of my father holding my
boy's hand, walking down the passage
and into the front room, to see a child
of mine in a coffin? Or the sight of you
and me sitting in the middle of the same
room, as this new baby shuffles her way
along the sofa's edge?
Last edited by freckle; 12-12-2009 at 03:07 PM.
i have been somewhat neglectful of the current poet laurete on this here thread..
Valentine
carol ann duffy
Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.
Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.
yup...that girl is good!
Last edited by freckle; 12-12-2009 at 06:56 PM.
I remember as a child Michael Rosen's happy poems of Eddie, and only found out in the last few months that it was Eddie who had died. That was quite a shock. You are right, there is such pressure that we should all be enjoying ourselves at Christmas. And we should where we can. But we should also think of those that are unhappy for whatever reason. A very thoughtful post Freckle.
That is good. An interesting choice of image. But it works. Here's another one...
Talent by Carol Ann Duffy
This is the word tightrope. Now imagine
a man, inching across it in the space
between our thoughts. He holds our breath.
There is no word net.
You want him to fall, don't you?
I guessed as much; he teeters but succeeds.
The word applause is written all over him.
Ooooo nice HHH!...right i have been on this thread a lot today so gonna go and get a glass of vino and settle down for the night, probs pop on later if poss
You enjoy your glass (or two) I might just join you.Ooooo nice HHH!...right i have been on this thread a lot today so gonna go and get a glass of vino and settle down for the night, probs pop on later if poss
Burnsall 1910 {Dalzell's Race}
The reverend set the boys off at burnsall,
Off like a bullet Metcalfe,Dalzell,Greenhow and all,
Once on the fell Metcalfe thought his lead was enough,
He tried to outfox Dalzell by running into the rough.
But Dalzell wouldn't have it he raced young Thomas to the turn,
That was when Metcalfe realised his plan had been spurned,
Dalzell was only two seconds behind at the top of the fell,
Heading back down the hillside is what he does well.
But this time he was so wonderfully quick,
His feet ne're touching the ground his footwork so slick,
Like a gazelle he leapt way up into the sky,
All the crowd who saw it believed a man could fly.
He finished the race in the fastest time ever,
Many said it will stand for all time,"Never be Never,"
It took 67 years until someone faster crossed the line,
In 1910 in burnsall Dalzell ran 12:59.
By Matt Harmston
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