Today's poet

[Harry H Howgill]

Annual marker.
First Swallow defines Springtime.
Time past; year to come.

[Stevie]

Nice haikus chaps. Along similar lines to HHH's:

Times readers compete;
the cuckoo is unaware.
Avian bully.

[freckle]

Fallen Majesty
Although crowds gathered once if she but showed her face,
And even old men's eyes grew dim, this hand alone,
Like some last courtier at a gypsy camping-place
Babbling of fallen majesty, records what's gone.

These lineaments, a heart that laughter has made sweet,
These, these remain, but I record what's gone. A crowd
Will gather, and not know it walks the very street
Whereon a thing once walked that seemed a burning cloud.


William Butler Yeats

Interesting choice Alf, what inspired it?

[Harry H Howgill]

Nice haikus chaps. Along similar lines to HHH's:

Times readers compete;
the cuckoo is unaware.
Avian bully.

Now I'm bright enough to know there is something clever going on there, but not smart enough to figure out what it is.

[Mossdog]

This is something like the poem I was writing in my head on this morning's run, inspired by the empty sky. Obviously I hope that Derby Tup's travel plans are not disrupted, even so. And I hope the last line isn't too corny.

An upturned empty bowl -
the sky, would ring clear
if you could only reach and strike
it. Echoes only to the sound
of birds and distant traffic.

Virgin blue is mirrored
in the water-filled quarry
still as sheet of glass.
I hardly dare breathe.
No aircraft dotting it
like flies in the ointment.
No airborne parasites crawling
across its perfect face
or scarring it with vapour trails.

No whine as low level jets slice
the sky over the hills
on the Luton approach.

The sun hauls itself lazily
over the trees of Ashridge -
no alarm call this morning
Go easy, jets, wait another day.

Stevie

I re-read this several times now Stevie, and each time I find myself particularly enjoying the delicate sense of temporary emptiness and clarity you evoke re the sky. It really is very good, and no, there's no corniness to it - a clever play on words. Well done

[Derby Tup]

I re-read this several times now Stevie, and each time I find myself particularly enjoying the delicate sense of temporary emptiness and clarity you evoke re the sky. It really is very good, and no, there's no corniness to it - a clever play on words. Well done

Is the Virgin pun intended or not though.....?

[Mossdog]

Fallen Majesty
Although crowds gathered once if she but showed her face,
And even old men's eyes grew dim, this hand alone,
Like some last courtier at a gypsy camping-place
Babbling of fallen majesty, records what's gone.

These lineaments, a heart that laughter has made sweet,
These, these remain, but I record what's gone. A crowd
Will gather, and not know it walks the very street
Whereon a thing once walked that seemed a burning cloud.


William Butler Yeats

That's truly gorgeous and esp. those particular lines....a heart that laughter has made sweet...one to keep for a special occasion perhaps

[Mossdog]

Shanghai frog chorus
emanating from wasteland
guttural echoes

Hey, I can really hear them DT - reminds me of my years in rural Africa. Hot and humid. Take care, watch out for mossies

[Mossdog]

A lovely image DT, but I now can't get this out of my head...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0auCDOERZyE

cheers pal

Bugger, bugger, bugger... HHH, why did I click on that link - yuk? For kindred souls who need an instant 'antidote' try this froggy link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJngs...eature=related

[Nathaniel Lee]

Poets Meet.

A feast of friends,
Gather in the lakeland morn,
All different some fast,
Some slow,
It matters not as we band together,
In the love for what we do,
Fellrunners,poets,friends,
A joy to share this life.

By Herakles.