A poem that I read today by Mac

[jisbell00]

Yes, and the mother's view of the man is understandably rather different than the child's. But she is only glimpsed in the whirl.

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/short ... en-dunmore

[Macavity]

A poet Tony mentioned

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/ ... riendships

[jisbell00]

My fave bit:

the happy faces of travelers headed perhaps
for a splendid ball, or a beheading.

Polish poets seem to have a gift for shock. Szymborska does it, so does Herbert.

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

I found that line amusing. The plain ending worked particularly well after that 'grenade'.

[jisbell00]

yup, it's a nice twist in readers' expectations. Here's the Szymborska i was thinking of, called "Synopsis": https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=go ... d=b3cb65b8

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

https://inksweatandtears.co.uk/lara-frankena-2/

[jisbell00]

Yup, that's nice.

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

[jisbell00]

Brilliant. I'd not heard of Michael Longley, but that was a lovely poem, and the story is quite moving. As he says, "to have been of some use."

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/ ... fast-alone

[jisbell00]

That is very nice.

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

It chimed with one of your poems John, you have a few diner experiences, I can't find the poem. It was in your geography MS, a town that you wouldn't revisit, but you'd always remember the diner and waitress!


Found it...

https://www.proleartthreat.co.uk/forum/ ... 39#p222391

[jisbell00]

Yes, it rang that bell for me as well - the diner with French fries on the salad!
Thanks for remembering.

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

https://www.bookroom.stpeters.org.au/po ... r-s-thomas

[jisbell00]

I like it. I don't really know RS Thomas, just the name. Nice to see some of his work.

Cheers,
John

[jisbell00]

http://www.hanksville.org/storytellers/ ... orses.html

[Macavity]

[jisbell00]

Nice. If that's the word!

John

[Macavity]

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/ ... in-co-cork

[jisbell00]

Yup, splendid. That's poetry at work.

Thanks, Phil!

[Macavity]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/ ... onal-trust

[jisbell00]

Nice! Good language.

[Macavity]

https://inksweatandtears.co.uk/allyson-dowling/

[jisbell00]

I think I'd prefer it with perfect rhyme, if she's planning to rhyme dawn and morn.

Cheers,
John