Today's poet

[Alf]

She's doing great thanks, no sign of action yet, due date arrives in 90 mins but who knows when junior will! She's very calm and together (so I had better be!).

I'm glad the poem rings a bell - i'm a bugger for start-line excuses and so the poem is, in part at least, a form of confession really!

I really enjoyed your poem OOP and best wishes to you and Mrs OOP for your imminent arrival

[Alf]

On Seeing the Elgin Marbles for the First Time

My spirit is too weak; mortality
Weighs heavily on me like unwilling sleep,
And each imagined pinnacle and steep
Of godlike hardship tells me I must die
Like a sick eagle looking at the sky.
Yet 'tis a gentle luxury to weep,
That I have not the cloudy winds to keep
Fresh for the opening of the morning's eye.
Such dim-conceived glories of the brain
Bring round the heart an indescribable feud;
So do these wonders a most dizzy pain,
That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude
Wasting of old Time -with a billowy main,
A sun, a shadow of a magnitude.

John Keats

[OneOffPoet]

I liked the Keats poem very much, and am impressed with the range of things that are cited on this thread. I'm very much a late-comer to poetry and as a result know absolutely nothing about it as a subject (i couldn't tell you who my favourite poet is). I decided to write a poem early last year about doing the BGR because it was an itch i had to scratch. I thought it would be a one-off, hence the username, but ever since then i've had the urge to write something now and again and i've posted the ones that i actually finish on here, that's 15 of them so far!

THing is, i would like to learn a bit more and get something of a grounding in poetry. I've ended up writing things as they pop into my head and i've really enjoyed it. People on here have been very encouraging and that's provided the confidence to post things that i've written (thank you!) but i feel like i know nothing. Most if not all the regular posters on here seem to have more than a grounding in all things poetic, so does anyone have any advice on things i might want to read? How would you introduce someone to poetry and what would you suggest they look into? Any advice gratefully received.

It's a tough question i know because it's a matter of taste. Where do you start?! I loved the 'Milkpan' poem (Liz Berry was it?) that was on here a few days ago and am generally drawn to poems about people's experiences, how they read/relate to other people and especially how they describe their significant events and experiences.

Hopefully this will improve my own offerings, but most importantly, i'm really keen to enjoy reading other works as well as writing my own

Thanks

OOP

[ratfink]

Poems inspired by thread titles.....

"Blisters on arches" got me humming "raindrops on roses" for some reason

Blisters on arches
And plum coloured toenails
Crammed into walshes
And bashed over wet trails
Soaked, smashed and frozen
The skin stained with peat
These are the things that I do to my feet
When my toe stubs
When my ankle turns
When I feeling glum
I look at the hills and the moors all about
And remember why...I run!

sorry it aint keats

[ratfink]

Eulogy

Dear Ciaran
The proper use of the past tense deserts me
You weren't meant to be confined to the past
I know you never found this life too easy
I think maybe we knew it couldn't last
But we always kept on hoping we could save you
We always hoped our love might be enough
But somewhere inside where we couldn't reach you
Is where you fought your demons by yourself
I'm happy that I had the chance to know you
I can't believe I've lost what I had found
If there's a heaven then all the drinks are harmless
And when I get there you c*nt then it's your round

[Alf]

Poems inspired by thread titles.....

"Blisters on arches" got me humming "raindrops on roses" for some reason

Blisters on arches
And plum coloured toenails
Crammed into walshes
And bashed over wet trails
Soaked, smashed and frozen
The skin stained with peat
These are the things that I do to my feet
When my toe stubs
When my ankle turns
When I feeling glum
I look at the hills and the moors all about
And remember why...I run!

sorry it aint keats

Excellent that ratfink I could find myself singing that when i am back out running again

[Alf]

Eulogy

Dear Ciaran
The proper use of the past tense deserts me
You weren't meant to be confined to the past
I know you never found this life too easy
I think maybe we knew it couldn't last
But we always kept on hoping we could save you
We always hoped our love might be enough
But somewhere inside where we couldn't reach you
Is where you fought your demons by yourself
I'm happy that I had the chance to know you
I can't believe I've lost what I had found
If there's a heaven then all the drinks are harmless
And when I get there you c*nt then it's your round

That's excellent as well ratfink. Nice line at the end

[Mossdog]

Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near

Forlorn, my Love, no comfort near,
Far, far from thee, I wander here;
Far, far from thee, the fate severe,
At which I most repine, Love.

Chorus-O wert thou, Love, but near me!
But near, near, near me,
How kindly thou wouldst cheer me,
And mingle sighs with mine, Love.

Around me scowls a wintry sky,
Blasting each bud of hope and joy;
And shelter, shade, nor home have I;
Save in these arms of thine, Love.
O wert thou, &c.

Cold, alter'd friendship's cruel part,
To poison Fortune's ruthless dart-
Let me not break thy faithful heart,
And say that fate is mine, Love.
O wert thou, &c.

But, dreary tho' the moments fleet,
O let me think we yet shall meet;
That only ray of solace sweet,
Can on thy Chloris shine, Love!
O wert thou, &c.

R Burns

Ok, so its more of a song than a poem but it's lovely nonetheless.

[freckle]

I liked the Keats poem very much, and am impressed with the range of things that are cited on this thread. I'm very much a late-comer to poetry and as a result know absolutely nothing about it as a subject (i couldn't tell you who my favourite poet is). I decided to write a poem early last year about doing the BGR because it was an itch i had to scratch. I thought it would be a one-off, hence the username, but ever since then i've had the urge to write something now and again and i've posted the ones that i actually finish on here, that's 15 of them so far!

THing is, i would like to learn a bit more and get something of a grounding in poetry. I've ended up writing things as they pop into my head and i've really enjoyed it. People on here have been very encouraging and that's provided the confidence to post things that i've written (thank you!) but i feel like i know nothing. Most if not all the regular posters on here seem to have more than a grounding in all things poetic, so does anyone have any advice on things i might want to read? How would you introduce someone to poetry and what would you suggest they look into? Any advice gratefully received.

It's a tough question i know because it's a matter of taste. Where do you start?! I loved the 'Milkpan' poem (Liz Berry was it?) that was on here a few days ago and am generally drawn to poems about people's experiences, how they read/relate to other people and especially how they describe their significant events and experiences.

Hopefully this will improve my own offerings, but most importantly, i'm really keen to enjoy reading other works as well as writing my own

Thanks

OOP

15 poems, isn't that just fab? and all really good quality...

I am by no means an expert at poetry and am still finding my way around it all. I found that anthology's such as "staying alive", "being alive" "my life in verse" and other more comtemporary stuff such as the forward book of poetry is a good way in, they introduce you to a range of poets who you can then look up individually either in books or on the net at leisure...i also have a local second hand book shop and one of my favourite pasttimes was to browse the poetry sections picking up books by specific authors for between £1-£2.50 a go....some poets have their own websites (e.g. simon armitage) and i would highly recommend attending a poetry reading if you get a chance, they are cheap as chips usually and really bring it to life (tho you might not have as much free time v soon!)...anyhoo, hope that helps OOP, keep writing!

oh and I personally would love to do some creative writing classes but just can't fit in yet!

[freckle]

Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near

Forlorn, my Love, no comfort near,
Far, far from thee, I wander here;
Far, far from thee, the fate severe,
At which I most repine, Love.

Chorus-O wert thou, Love, but near me!
But near, near, near me,
How kindly thou wouldst cheer me,
And mingle sighs with mine, Love.

Around me scowls a wintry sky,
Blasting each bud of hope and joy;
And shelter, shade, nor home have I;
Save in these arms of thine, Love.
O wert thou, &c.

Cold, alter'd friendship's cruel part,
To poison Fortune's ruthless dart-
Let me not break thy faithful heart,
And say that fate is mine, Love.
O wert thou, &c.

But, dreary tho' the moments fleet,
O let me think we yet shall meet;
That only ray of solace sweet,
Can on thy Chloris shine, Love!
O wert thou, &c.

R Burns

Ok, so its more of a song than a poem but it's lovely nonetheless.

sigh.............................................. .................................................. .............lovely choice mossy