Today's poet

[freckle]

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

i like ratfink this...a lot....sad but incredibly well written with shades of bukowski, did you write it?

[ratfink]

did you write it?

yes - it feels a bit weird sharing it.

[freckle]

yes - it feels a bit weird sharing it.

i think it makes it all the more brilliant (and brave) !, thank you so much for sharing it!

[XRunner]

The Rights Of Woman

While Europe's eye is fix'd on mighty things,
The fate of Empires and the fall of Kings;
While quacks of State must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp the Rights of Man;
Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

First, in the Sexes' intermix'd connection,
One sacred Right of Woman is, protection. -
The tender flower that lifts its head, elate,
Helpless, must fall before the blasts of Fate,
Sunk on the earth, defac'd its lovely form,
Unless your shelter ward th' impending storm.

Our second Right-but needless here is caution,
To keep that right inviolate's the fashion;
Each man of sense has it so full before him,
He'd die before he'd wrong it-'tis decorum. -
There was, indeed, in far less polish'd days,
A time, when rough rude man had naughty ways,
Would swagger, swear, get drunk, kick up a riot,
Nay even thus invade a Lady's quiet.

Now, thank our stars! those Gothic times are fled;
Now, well-bred men-and you are all well-bred-
Most justly think (and we are much the gainers)
Such conduct neither spirit, wit, nor manners.

For Right the third, our last, our best, our dearest,
That right to fluttering female hearts the nearest;
Which even the Rights of Kings, in low prostration,
Most humbly own-'tis dear, dear admiration!
In that blest sphere alone we live and move;
There taste that life of life-immortal love.
Smiles, glances, sighs, tears, fits, flirtations, airs;
'Gainst such an host what flinty savage dares,
When awful Beauty joins with all her charms-
Who is so rash as rise in rebel arms?

But truce with kings, and truce with constitutions,
With bloody armaments and revolutions;
Let Majesty your first attention summon,
Ah! ca ira! The Majesty Of Woman!

By Robert Burns

[Alf]

i like ratfink this...a lot....

I think you are turning into Yoda freckle

I have got 'Staying Alive' as well by the way. Its a great collection and I have posted quite a few poems on here from it (as you have probably noticed )

Another one:

Postscript

And some time make the time to drive out west
Into County Clare, along the Flaggy Shore,
In September or October, when the wind
And the light are working off each other
So that the ocean on one side is wild
With foam and glitter, and inland among stones
The surface of a slate-grey lake is lit
By the earthed lightening of flock of swans,
Their feathers roughed and ruffling, white on white,
Their fully-grown headstrong-looking heads
Tucked or cresting or busy underwater.
Useless to think you'll park or capture it
More thoroughly. You are neither here nor there,
A hurry through which known and strange things pass
As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways
And catch the heart off guard and blow it open.

Seamus Heaney

[Harry H Howgill]

Any sign of the little one yet OOP?

I didn't know much about poetry until I picked up this thread so all I know about poetry started from here. I bought a few compilations. I especially liked Poems on the Underground which has such a varied selection and got me started. That led to discovering other poet's works. Oxfam is always good for random second hand poetry books. Some times they're good, sometimes not, so I just take them back. There are lots of good poetry websites. I like PoemHunter, Black Cat Poems, Poet's corner and Poet's graves for starters.

Another wonderful introduction, especially if you are wanting to write more is Stephen Fry's An Ode Less Travelled. A good read, and certainly enthused me to write more.

As with so many things, just best to dive in and see what happens.

All the best
Harry

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

[Harry H Howgill]

Fun though eh?

yes - it feels a bit weird sharing it.

[freckle]

"I think you are turning into Yoda freckle "

I am such a typo head!

or should i say "typo head i am"

[freckle]

The Rights Of Woman

While Europe's eye is fix'd on mighty things,
The fate of Empires and the fall of Kings;
While quacks of State must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp the Rights of Man;
Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

First, in the Sexes' intermix'd connection,
One sacred Right of Woman is, protection. -
The tender flower that lifts its head, elate,
Helpless, must fall before the blasts of Fate,
Sunk on the earth, defac'd its lovely form,
Unless your shelter ward th' impending storm.

Our second Right-but needless here is caution,
To keep that right inviolate's the fashion;
Each man of sense has it so full before him,
He'd die before he'd wrong it-'tis decorum. -
There was, indeed, in far less polish'd days,
A time, when rough rude man had naughty ways,
Would swagger, swear, get drunk, kick up a riot,
Nay even thus invade a Lady's quiet.

Now, thank our stars! those Gothic times are fled;
Now, well-bred men-and you are all well-bred-
Most justly think (and we are much the gainers)
Such conduct neither spirit, wit, nor manners.

For Right the third, our last, our best, our dearest,
That right to fluttering female hearts the nearest;
Which even the Rights of Kings, in low prostration,
Most humbly own-'tis dear, dear admiration!
In that blest sphere alone we live and move;
There taste that life of life-immortal love.
Smiles, glances, sighs, tears, fits, flirtations, airs;
'Gainst such an host what flinty savage dares,
When awful Beauty joins with all her charms-
Who is so rash as rise in rebel arms?

But truce with kings, and truce with constitutions,
With bloody armaments and revolutions;
Let Majesty your first attention summon,
Ah! ca ira! The Majesty Of Woman!

By Robert Burns

Aw of course it is Burns night, I am reminded...and slightly gutted that I have missed out on some haggis and neeps followed by some glenmarangie with a certain old hound...aw well....here is a little excerpt from "to a mountain daisy" by the man himself...

"Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r,
Thou's met me in an evil hour;
For I maun crush amang the stoure
Thy slender stem;
To spare thee now is past my pow'r,
Thou bonie gem."

[dominion]

"I think you are turning into Yoda freckle "

I am such a typo head!

or should i say "typo head i am"

Moving words as ever Freckle... It's almost a Haiku??