I heard this again on the weekend and it always makes me weep

[Gibbon]

I like Carol Ann Duffy. This one's good:

Prayer

Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So, a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.

Some nights, although we are faithless, the truth
enters our hearts, that small familiar pain;
then a man will stand stock-still, hearing his youth
in the distant Latin chanting of a train.

Pray for us now. Grade 1 piano scales
console the lodger looking out across
a Midlands town. Then dusk, and someone calls
a child's name as though they named their loss.

Darkness outside. Inside, the radio's prayer -
Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre.

Thats good, I like the tight couplet to finish off.

[Boudica]

I think it's quite clever but not beautiful, free verse in my opinion doesn't lend itself to beautiful poetry although D H Lawrence comes close. It has no rythmn, even blank verse like Marlowe etc even though it doesn't rhyme has a rythmn due to its iambic pentameter.

This poem also doesn't make you work too hard with illusion etc, its all put on a plate for you and doesn't have that wistfulness of the great war poets.

Read Rupert Brookes The soldier and you will see what I mean although by no means have to agree.

thanks Gibbon

if i ever get this goddamn essay written i will look it up

i'm very ignorant about poetry i read phil which takes most of my brain most of the time

[shaunbhoy]

"Iambic Pentameter"

There's something you don't hear everyday.

[MaryPoppins]

Ok, own up, who's stolen MPs login?

Bugger off, I am sweet, me.

[shaunbhoy]

Bugger off, I am sweet, me.

I thought you were "Truly Scrumptious"?
Oh wait...............wrong film. Sorry........carry on!

[MaryPoppins]

I thought you were "Truly Scrumptious"?
Oh wait...............wrong film. Sorry........carry on!

Wrong film. Right as ever though SB.

[Gibbon]

thanks Gibbon

if i ever get this goddamn essay written i will look it up

i'm very ignorant about poetry i read phil which takes most of my brain most of the time

Well that stuff just smoked mine. Only done a bit, Plato's Laches and a bit on John Locke and Toleration with respect to cultural exemptions.

Poetry is very subjective and personal, what works for one person may not work for another. I was only giving my opinion and in no way meant to try and invalidate yours. I've only just got into myself through the Faber Book of Beasts which was a standard book on an OU course I've being doing, but I've carried on reading it after.

Good luck with the essay. I can't wait to get started again in Oct.