Today's poet

[Harry H Howgill]

I hope not as I am definately not what you would call a natural leader....on second thoughts there might be some bonuses!...would you like to go and fetch me a snecklifter ? tee hee!

Yes boss. I've got it here, but sadly I've just had a drink so can't drive it over. I'll post it. It should be there by next Wednesday.

[freckle]

Hello everyone...

as you may be aware X Runner has set up a fell poets society social group today, I am not sure what everyone thinks about this:

i) is it a good idea? what would be the advantages/disadvantages
ii) if people agree in principle that it is a good idea then what if any rules should we have about joining (as you all know i am not generally one for rules and prefer a laissez faire approach to life within reason!)

One of the things about this thread that I have enjoyed the most is its collaborative, open and tolerant feel...i can think of some advantages to having such a society (a common place to discuss possible meetings etc) but also some disadvantages ( ie it may leave occassional posters feeling excluded/marginalised in some way)....

I think it is important that anyone who is interested in the thread share their thoughts on this matter...

i realise everyone is probably having a good skinful now so perhaps it isn't the best time but i would appreciate your views at some juncture!

all the best

freckle

[Harry H Howgill]

I'd much rather be choosing or writing poetry than having discussions about rules. This is a lovely and positive thread, but we are a little cliquey already without adding another layer of cliquiness to it. As far as rules go, we don't need any other than don't be offensive to anyone. I'm not sure what advantages there are either. I'd personally think that the thread is ticking along nicely without it. Please don't take offence XR. I'm sure you set it up by yourself with the best intentions.

Lets get on with the poetry.....

The Sun

I stayed up all night
Thinking about the sun
Then in the morning
It dawned on me

Rory Motion

[freckle]

Well said Harry I am sure the debate will continue!

and now for some Pablo....

Poor Fellows

What it takes on this planet,
to make love to each other in peace.
Everyone pries under your sheets,
everyone interferes with your loving.
They say terrible things about a man and a woman,
who after much milling about,
all sorts of compunctions,
do something unique,
they both lie with each other in one bed.
I ask myself whether frogs are so furtive,
or sneeze as they please.
Whether they whisper to each other in swamps about illegitimate frogs,
or the joys of amphibious living.
I ask myself if birds single out enemy birds,
or bulls gossip with bullocks before they go out in public with cows.
Even the roads have eyes and the parks their police.
Hotels spy on their guests,
windows name names,
canons and squadrons debark on missions to liquidate love.
All those ears and those jaws working incessantly,
till a man and his girl
have to raise their climax,
full tilt,
on a bicycle.

[Harry H Howgill]

Fluffy Toy Dog

I had a fluffy toy dog when I was a child
It was supposed to talk
But it wouldn't do its stuff
So I soaked it in petroleum spirit for a while
Put a match to it
And it went woof!

Rory Motion

A take on the old joke, but I like how this guy thinks.

[Harry H Howgill]

Kindness to Animals

If I went vegetarian
And didn't eat lambs for dinner,
I think I'd be a better person
And also thinner.

But the lamb is not endangered
And at least I can truthfully say
I have never, ever eaten a barn owl,
So perhaps I'm OK.

Wendy Cope

There is a really funny comment in her book saying that this poem was commissioned and then rejected for a World Wide Fund for Nature anthology.

[Harry H Howgill]

Poor Fellows

What it takes on this planet,
to make love to each other in peace.
Everyone pries under your sheets,
everyone interferes with your loving.
They say terrible things about a man and a woman,
who after much milling about,
all sorts of compunctions,
do something unique,
they both lie with each other in one bed.
I ask myself whether frogs are so furtive,
or sneeze as they please.
Whether they whisper to each other in swamps about illegitimate frogs,
or the joys of amphibious living.
I ask myself if birds single out enemy birds,
or bulls gossip with bullocks before they go out in public with cows.
Even the roads have eyes and the parks their police.
Hotels spy on their guests,
windows name names,
canons and squadrons debark on missions to liquidate love.
All those ears and those jaws working incessantly,
till a man and his girl
have to raise their climax,
full tilt,
on a bicycle.

[XRunner]

Please don't take offence XR. I'm sure you set it up by yourself with the best intentions.

It was only set up because the facility to create it was there and because I wanted to try something new for next year.

Not sure if there are any advantages in having a Social Group on an open forum.

Here is a poem for 2009:

The Old Year

The Old Year's gone away
To nothingness and night:
We cannot find him all the day
Nor hear him in the night:
He left no footstep, mark or place
In either shade or sun:
The last year he'd a neighbour's face,
In this he's known by none.

All nothing everywhere:
Mists we on mornings see
Have more of substance when they're here
And more of form than he.
He was a friend by every fire,
In every cot and hall--
A guest to every heart's desire,
And now he's nought at all.

Old papers thrown away,
Old garments cast aside,
The talk of yesterday,
Are things identified;
But time once torn away
No voices can recall:
The eve of New Year's Day
Left the Old Year lost to all.

(by John Clare)

[Harry H Howgill]

Thanks XR

John Clare is one of my favourites.

It was only set up because the facility to create it was there and because I wanted to try something new for next year.

Not sure if there are any advantages in having a Social Group on an open forum.

Here is a poem for 2009:

The Old Year

The Old Year's gone away
To nothingness and night:
We cannot find him all the day
Nor hear him in the night:
He left no footstep, mark or place
In either shade or sun:
The last year he'd a neighbour's face,
In this he's known by none.

All nothing everywhere:
Mists we on mornings see
Have more of substance when they're here
And more of form than he.
He was a friend by every fire,
In every cot and hall--
A guest to every heart's desire,
And now he's nought at all.

Old papers thrown away,
Old garments cast aside,
The talk of yesterday,
Are things identified;
But time once torn away
No voices can recall:
The eve of New Year's Day
Left the Old Year lost to all.

(by John Clare)

[Old Whippet]

Hello everyone...

as you may be aware X Runner has set up a fell poets society social group today, I am not sure what everyone thinks about this:

i) is it a good idea? what would be the advantages/disadvantages
ii) if people agree in principle that it is a good idea then what if any rules should we have about joining (as you all know i am not generally one for rules and prefer a laissez faire approach to life within reason!)

One of the things about this thread that I have enjoyed the most is its collaborative, open and tolerant feel...i can think of some advantages to having such a society (a common place to discuss possible meetings etc) but also some disadvantages ( ie it may leave occassional posters feeling excluded/marginalised in some way)....

I think it is important that anyone who is interested in the thread share their thoughts on this matter...

i realise everyone is probably having a good skinful now so perhaps it isn't the best time but i would appreciate your views at some juncture!

all the best

freckle

I'm with HHH and Groucho Marx on this one.