tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138261862024-03-12T18:51:14.314-07:00pomesonpoetsTo capture moments with poets - from reading, meeting or imagining - I have started this blog.Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-14296701352407918072016-01-11T14:37:00.000-08:002016-01-11T14:37:56.678-08:00Fairy Tale In VerseIn a local branch of Age Concern I came across an LP on the old Camden label. It was entitled simply <em>Brahms Liede.</em> I paid for it and brought it home full of anticipation. I am very keen on Schubert and like particularly the Winterreise. These liede by Brahms were all new to me. What was so fascinating was that I did not recognise any of the poets. Frustratingly there were no translations, only the original poems in German. I listened to the LP and made a CD of it. Then with the help of my German dictionary I set about working out what the songs were about. Eventually I managed to come up with some translations. This one by Dieter Rihm (with the date 1858) has a beautiful lilting rising melody and haunting rhythmic accompaniment on piano. I have not been able to track down Dieter Rihm though I assume him to be a little known, perhaps unpublished poet who was a friend of the composer.<br />
<br />
It is called <em>Fabel in Versen </em>which means Fairy Tale in Verse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a town of noble heritage,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A church, shops, thatched roofs with spiral chimneys,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A hill that sloped down to a landing stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I see white blossoms drifting on the breeze,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The pleasant boredom of the boats in Summer, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How Autumn’s setting sun and fiery leaves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Influence the lake with bronze, how it grows calmer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I see the stillness deep Winter conceives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When in the lake an image of the town<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Appears: sloping roofs, smoke in blue air,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The shops closed-up, the church’s gentle spire,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This holiday, pointing both up and down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Into the water, which holds as in a mirror<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Good will for everyone, both here and there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-82285251931244208552014-05-02T14:24:00.001-07:002014-05-02T14:24:21.387-07:00A Ballad for Joe and Heidi
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I have changed the title to “A” ballad rather than “The” because I
realise this poem is far from definitive, others may write their own ballads of
the same subjects, also I may try again. Clearly also, the first stanza owes
something to LP Hartley’s:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“The past is another country; they do things differently there.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I would like to thank RR (formerly known as LDP) <a href="http://ldptonedeaf.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ldptonedeaf.blogspot.co.uk/</span></a>
and LK <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://box-elder.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">http://box-elder.blogspot.co.uk/</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for their encouragement and support for the
idea behind this ballad, which is I hope a beginning of something more…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sitges is a town famous for its Bohemian atmosphere and long beach
on the Costa Dorada <a href="https://www.onthebeach.co.uk/destinations/spain/costa-dorada/sitges"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.onthebeach.co.uk/destinations/spain/costa-dorada/sitges</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Finally here is a link to Joe’s book of sonnets <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Handbook for Explorers</b> with photographs
by Lucy Kempton. It is a deluxe colour edition. A beautiful book visually and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>aurally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/3030400-handbook-for-explorers"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/3030400-handbook-for-explorers</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A second more affordable edition for the
pocket or bag may soon appear…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A Ballad of
Heidi and Joe<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First we
must draw a country of the mind,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">its maps and
contours, pictures; then agree<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to go there.
If it’s anywhere we’ll find<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the
explorer’s life, it’s in another country,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a country
with a Sitges and an August sea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and with a
Tunbridge Wells where they’re content<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">walking both
together on the pavement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who swam the
furthest, talked the most, was thinner,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">understood
people best is hard to know;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">who could
divine an animal’s agenda,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">some would
say Heidi, some that it was Joe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is a
fact: until just a while ago,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">not as some
couples,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one leader, one behind,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">they walked
both together on the pavement,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">crossed over
to the sand and breathed sea air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Their
sufferings and illnesses seemed past;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the future
like a strong and rusty stair<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">led upwards
to a landscape set to last;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">they did not
know its light was fading fast;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the past in
front of them, their present was behind,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">walking both
together on the pavement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whole
stories hide here; pictures stun with colour;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">trees ebb
like tides at night, by day a-buzz<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">with
multiples of wing and throat. A cooler<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and glasses,
Ipad, he waits to greet us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">with maps
and plans, and later on he’ll tweet us<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">with routes
that he and Heidi have in mind<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">walking both
together on the pavement,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as if we too
with root and flower could stay<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">unmindful of
the assassin, changeless summer,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">within the
panorama of this day;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">not noticing
the sky’s not getting dimmer,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">nor
fireflies by right begin to glimmer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our shadows
lengthen, leave them both behind,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">walking both
together on the pavement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-66481883168541355892014-04-23T14:50:00.000-07:002014-04-23T14:50:09.583-07:00Of Ballads and Blogs<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been a slow and gradual return to the blogger’s
universe for me since Joe’s funeral. The moving tributes and accounts by Joe’s
friends have meant a great deal to me, as the brief meetings with them at the
funeral were not representative of the large meaning of their presence. So
thanks to Robbie, Lucy, Tristan and Claire, and to those who in turn commented
on their posts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Joyce has also been recovering from a severe asthma attack
following the Dust Cloud over London, which entailed a 10 day stay in hospital.
She is only just adjusting now, and it will take several more days before she
will be fully rehabilitated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have been fortunate to have a storehouse of memories of
seeing Joe regularly in the weeks before he died and am attempting to turn
these into some kind of ballad, maybe<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The
Ballad of Heidi and Joe…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, this is proving hard and unpredictable, a project
in the making rather than a statement or even the draft of a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My friend John Arnett met me in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pineapple </i>for a drink. He was telling me about his favourite aunt,
who has recently died, and how on a visit to her he found himself alone with
her, while his cousin went to make some tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“What are you thinking about?” John asked his aunt. Her
vagueness and memory loss of recent months had not prepared him for the answer.
She looked straight back at John and pronounced, “I’m thinking about you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the way back to London in the car (I imagine a late sun
slanting in under the visor) John found the words of a poem forming and
formulating in his mind. As he drove the phrases became more clearly etched and
by the time he reached home he was able to reach for a sheet of paper and write
down what was in his head. It was only then he fully realised the poem was all
about his favourite aunt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I happened to have an envelope and a pen in my pocket and it
was on this surface that John wrote out the following while I fetched him a
pint. Here is John’s tribute to his aunt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Try to remember where<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You saw it last<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This thing you lost<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Somewhere in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It won’t be where you left it<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s a fact –<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And I know to my cost<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It can’t come back <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This thing you lost<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This thing we call the past.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some things aren’t meant to last<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some things do, and should<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, whatever else you lose,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t lose heart –<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There never was a heart<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So true, or good.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks
to John for allowing me to share his poem on my blog, and for the willingness to
appear in the Pineapple from time to time to drink deep and discuss consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-69385482601607623862014-03-13T02:57:00.000-07:002014-03-13T02:57:47.357-07:00Joe Hyam 20/09/1933 - 10/03/2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2hJ1evsFdUM/Ux99Cu61caI/AAAAAAAAAwc/46rza0RlJcQ/s1600/Towards+The+Strand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2hJ1evsFdUM/Ux99Cu61caI/AAAAAAAAAwc/46rza0RlJcQ/s1600/Towards+The+Strand.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_vvBVF2QDI/Ux99MVhzBjI/AAAAAAAAAwk/Llrhnbwmi04/s1600/DSCF1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_vvBVF2QDI/Ux99MVhzBjI/AAAAAAAAAwk/Llrhnbwmi04/s1600/DSCF1912.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Handbook for Explorers 19</strong></div>
<br />
And yet, you must keep saying "and yet",<br />
To preserve your mind from loss of balance<br />
And keep on thinking that there's still a chance<br />
To find a route which you can safely bet<br />
Will lead into an unlikely country<br />
Where people have learnt the art of kindness,<br />
With no rules of play and no blind duress,<br />
No referee to insist how you must be.<br />
But if they tell such stories to keep up hope;<br />
And if you choose to sing as you trudge on,<br />
Valiant hymns of love and salvation,<br />
You'll feel better; and feeling better, stop<br />
To reflect that no end is more worthwhile<br />
Than, when it comes, you can't holdback a smile.<br />
<br />
Joe HyamLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-21003983098820778722014-01-20T04:19:00.000-08:002014-01-20T04:23:05.165-08:00Peace Sonnets Not War Poems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZGe6cp4u8U/Ut0TpGPUeyI/AAAAAAAAAus/mH933eqZ5cc/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZGe6cp4u8U/Ut0TpGPUeyI/AAAAAAAAAus/mH933eqZ5cc/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Photographers’ Sonnet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Rupert Brooke</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Now, God be
thanked Who has matched us with His hour,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And caught our
youth, and wakened us from sleeping,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">With hand made
sure, clear eye,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and sharpened power,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To turn, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as swimmers into cleanness leaping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We have found
safety with all things undying,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The winds, and
morning, tears of men, and mirth,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The deep night,
and birds singing, and clouds flying,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And sleep, and
freedom, and the autumnal earth:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And think, this
heart, all evil shed away,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A pulse in the
eternal mind, no less</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Gives somewhere
back the thoughts by England given;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Her sights and sounds,
dreams happy as her day;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And laughter,
learnt of friends; and gentleness,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In hearts at
peace, under an English heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reassembled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by K.Hyam
from Rupert Brooke’s sonnets Peace 1914, Safety 1914 and The Soldier 1914.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-54477022688018314272013-08-22T03:15:00.001-07:002013-08-22T03:15:04.462-07:00Perspectives<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perspectives on a Lake<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">On that shore small people
move,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">walk tiny dogs, sit on small
benches;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">on this shore birds patrol
their grove,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">slow and long-legged under
green branches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">that etch the unrelenting rays</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">in bars of complicated shade.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Stretched wide, out there the
sunshine plays</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">easily on tree, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>colonnade</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">and path. Perspective grinds
them down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">to semblance on a tapestry,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">a distant likeness of the town,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">pastiche of inches, lacquered
sky.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Whilst here, an insensible
curved rat –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">still wet from the swim that
made her great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
+++</div>
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-64729481246366452712013-08-03T13:06:00.002-07:002013-09-22T02:19:46.679-07:00Jazz Riff for Nigel Henderson<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Italian Street Scene<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nigel Henderson</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stressed
Photograph 1951 </i><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
concertina’d <br />
space against space<br />
horse w/ cart<br />
going up<br />
the street’s tiled zig-zag <br />
paved crazily<br />
swirled in Henderson’s dark dish <br />
<br />
rippling up to white-walls<br />
of a displaced convertible –<br />
gleam-sheen <br />
merged into brick<br />
low door open –<br />
<br />
white shirt hair slicked back<br />
as if sprouted from his own car<br />
<br />
it’s all been pulled back squeezed up stretched <br />
so not knowing<br />
which way to look<br />
you’re in the photo too<br />
<br />
coffee in the air<br />
breadrolls flowers<br />
like the bunch she’s carrying<br />
in one hand<br />
haloed by morning sun<br />
as she arrives walking<br />
too cool to agitate<br />
unstoppable jazz walk<br />
unstressed –<br />
testing the hem<br />
of her retro-for-real check-print dress<br />
<br />
the staccato tattoo<br />
of those heels<br />
wins out in all the other sounds –<br />
motor starting <br />
an aria of an argument<br />
neighing horse –<br />
in the old cacophony<br />
a rhythm-awakeningLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-59337344319437357432013-06-02T16:25:00.002-07:002013-08-17T13:22:53.998-07:00On Vivian Maier<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">The Eye of Fame<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Resting alone, the eye of the
coming storm,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">nervously awake, her
own space of mirrors and light.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Vanishing to the streets in
style, her own style</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">made timeless by a Paris memory,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">in these quarter-heal leather
shoes she walks</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">and walks in; the restless
streets, skyline<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“…vivid against the little soft
cities.” Demolition men</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">enter the frame, and a woman
being canoodled, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">incredulity that the camera
lady comes so close, fascination</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">at this twin lens shooter, the
steady aim. Cardsharps</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">interested as if: “Hey, a dame
just took a picture.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kenneth hyam may 2013<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-15166728631597055612013-03-25T14:57:00.000-07:002013-03-25T14:57:01.819-07:00The Post BelowThe post below is a coming together of my own thoughts and an attempt at a translation of Laforgue's Pierrots. Laforgue wrote these Pierrot poems as part of a longer work entitled <i>L'immitation de notre dame la lune, </i>which literally means<i> The immitation of our Lady the Moon. </i><br />
Translation is always a dicy business. I realise that the first question is: how does the poet translator circumnavigate the problem that all poems are almost by their nature untranslatable? Has the poet/translator come up with a new poem> If so, how much is this a translation and how much a new poem masquerading as a translation?<br />
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I don't on my conscience know the answer to these questions. However , I will be as honest as I can. One of these poems is in fact a translation, the other is well....a transreflection, an extrapolation from the non-existence of a poem which does not have a material counterpart..Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-20189425609374337692013-03-25T14:42:00.000-07:002013-03-25T14:59:43.088-07:00Pierrots<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Pierrots iii<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As dusk
falls, these molesters<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of statues,
deep in the parks,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Only offer
their arms and attentions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To the least
improperly dressed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In a
one-to-one with a woman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It feels as
if there are three,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mixing up
tomorrow with yesterday,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Intensely
demanding nothing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Claiming, “I
love you” with eyes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To the gods,
ecstatically dead-pan,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Concluding
their mad declaration<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With, “Oh
hell, shall we just leave it!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
…Until She,
in forgetful daze,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Seized by
one-knows-not-what need,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Drunk on
moonlight, falls into their arms<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Very far
from respectable ways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Pierrots After Hours<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In a café
over absinthe glasses<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They stretch
the tight rope of a gaze;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A tilting
line that gently sways,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Linking them
briefly to express<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mad steps
with nonchalant disdain,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Twinned in
the dim light where they drink,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Where to fly
upwards is to sink<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And losing
balance is to gain<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A new
context for the curved Moon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
the velvet
sea she’s swimming through.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Their blood
freezes: nothing more to do<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Except fall;
fallen, fly alone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Onto the
blue cobbles where all’s well,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
White
clothes spread out, a drifting calm,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
‘til whirr
of metal, crash , alarm<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As church
clock grates its ancient bell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-69639643519396414572012-12-27T13:49:00.001-08:002012-12-29T01:02:47.143-08:00Terrestrial Park<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> August 2012<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
clouds straddle the flats high up like china clay;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">five o
clock feels warm and light as August might,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and
the flats reach up towards the beckoning light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">away
from Earth like giant spikes, to head away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Challenging
space as if it needed to be fought,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">young
riders ride into the sprawling bushy park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">on
bikes, some paid for, some taken for a lark,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">skidding
and crashing, from game to impact sport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
white car with the door wide open draws a crowd,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">becomes
a learning hub: a local Doctor Seuss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">raps tall from a tower where trouble brews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
car has pedigree, a secret whispered loud,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a
half-told story’s well-known sequel, how for hours <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">it was
driven round, returning round a certain bend,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">not
for a bad reason – just to help a friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s
talk of pacts and treaties, the sharing of powers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“…if
one side can respect, the other understands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
even younger kids have blades; one little boy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a
blade that coils and uncoils like a toy,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a game
of stick and scatter, for brain and glands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that
boil with thoughts. The nerves send their orders;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
bikes skid, slide round; one hits the deck;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
rider smirks, jeans ripped, t-shirt newly wrecked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Up in
the flats a breeze helps a mother get their suppers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her
thoughts simmer; she won’t go to money-lenders –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">even
before the doorbell rang she’d know the score.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
she calls, “Supper” from the window, shouts, shouts more,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and her
message is relayed by willing messengers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kenneth
Hyam Dec 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-56796442589727803932012-10-26T16:09:00.000-07:002012-10-31T13:07:02.464-07:00Reasons Why Not<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';">....to crack a Walnut…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">Of all the nuts they say<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">are good for you, one wins<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">out in front by a whisker:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">Nature’s tooled Netsuke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">in the shape of your brain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">You may well need<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">its white squiggly crunch<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">of protein<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">glazed and shining,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">like a Botticelli cloud,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">reined in by a husk;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">yet much more than its<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">gonad-protecting,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">memory enhancing,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">artery-washing nutrients<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">you need the dream<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">of the walnut, the inside-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">its-shell stage, where<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">a perfectly-formed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">concert grand is waiting<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">for the femininity and lyricism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">of Mitsuko Uchida.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: large;">You can't know</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: large;">that that's not true:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">or never have heard her play Mozart<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">just look a little closer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">at the walnut<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">and see how it’s made<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">of two halves – a left<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">and a right side<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">you might say –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">and how each is shaped<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">like a coracle, sailing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';"><span style="font-size: large;">where two oceans meet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif';">_______________________________________</span></div>
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Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-978267103206150852012-07-18T15:32:00.002-07:002012-07-18T15:32:47.451-07:00Festival 51<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>To go with my photobook on the Festival of Britain celebrations of last summer on the South Bank, I have written this poem</em></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Festival 51</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m lost among these Londoners</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and semi-Londoners I live among,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">yet London stirs me whenever London stirs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The silent losers and the real winners,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enigma-breakers in the crowd, unsung,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">were lost among these Londoners</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">who drank in tents to scientific wonders,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">who danced on terraces where Skylon hung;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>London stirred them whenever London stirred,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and would include each bunch of foreigners</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">who came to stay. No matter how much stung</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">or lost among these Londoners,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">new cohorts came to interleaving boroughs –</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a hovel built on clay, mist-bank where sunrays clung,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">when London first stirred, whenever London stirred.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Smoked rubble, lives peeled off in pastel layers –</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the bomb-sites pollinated, bells were rung,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and each voice lost in other Londoners’ –</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a climb of sound, a point where nothing stirs.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-13411860754109407732012-06-23T11:22:00.000-07:002012-08-05T04:36:40.628-07:00Foundry Gates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0aG0dnDKzY/T-YG9u-UpmI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/ZWcDLPOmiOY/s1600/Foundry+Gates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0aG0dnDKzY/T-YG9u-UpmI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/ZWcDLPOmiOY/s320/Foundry+Gates.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A pint of Broadside from Southwold got John reminiscing about his teacher training days in Manchester. He was walking past some gigantic gates of a defunct iron foundry and took a photograph. He also wrote a poem about the image which he took. All this was 20 years ago. He told me he could still remember the poem and would write it out now in the pub. I rummaged in my rucksack for paper to no avail. John went for some, and came back WITH A PAPER PLATE. He then proceeded to write down his poem from memory without a pause or a single crossing out.<br />
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Please click on the image to read the poem. Thanks John for this poem, and the new genre of paper plate pomes.Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-12687202481600807922012-04-29T04:23:00.003-07:002012-06-27T01:01:48.801-07:00Photobook<div style="text-align: left; width: 450px;">
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<a target="_new" href="http://www.blurb.com/books/preview/3142350?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget"><img src="http://bookshow.blurb.com/bookshow/cache/P4529959/md/wcover_2.png"></img></a></object><br />
<div style="display: block;">
<a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2569446/11c8eeec62896b4768e99b868e021f131b4d3fc9?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" style="margin: 12px 3px;" target="_blank">Fairground 51</a> | <a href="http://www.blurb.com/landing_pages/bookshow?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" style="margin: 12px 3px;" target="_blank">Make Your Own Book</a></div>
</div>
Please try clicking on the icon under the book and to the right with four arrows radiating out to see a preview of my new blurb book. This icon will give you the full screen version.The book came about as a result of a photography project I did on the South Bank of the Thames. Inspired by the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain I took a series of photographs on the theme of Fairground '51. I have included an introduction and some poems and captions, the idea being to tap into the spirit of that time, both in the sense of the actual Festival of Britain and also the rekindling of it in 2011 - I think the words help the reader to tune in. There was a strong and emotive atmosphere which made me feel it was not only OK to take photographs, it was somehow nesessary as the artifacts and installations - beach huts, photobooth, fairground attractions and the 1950s ice-cream vans - would soon disappear from sight. However, on the preview you will not be able to see much of the text clearly, even on full "Full Screen." The pictures are clear, which is a good thing, thanks to Blurb. Another reason I took the photographs was because of the joy of making them, just being there as an observer and participator. I hope some of this feeling translates to the viewer of the pictures.Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-43211532574015959642012-02-12T03:29:00.000-08:002012-02-12T05:18:29.667-08:00Benches and Book VaultsBenches and Book Vaults<br /><br />The only company is the pigeons that fly at knee height and settle on the ground. He watches as a girl sits cross-legged to photograph her beau. He watches how shadows of birds climb walls in sunlight. He feels cold. The thought of toast just made from an old pop-up toaster, the sound the knife makes across its surface and how the butter…. He walks on through sunlight wondering if, to a ghost, it might seem a wall impenetratable. There are concrete towers, there were slums the concrete towers replaced.<br />The arrow to Scoob takes him down metallic stairs into a low-ceilinged basement where books are ranged in avenues of shelves. He listens to the dusty quiet in which pages murmur of someone close they’ve lost – History, Politics, Architecture, the film section open access – Poetry a little harder to get to, enclosed in a little room of shelves where two people must be conscious of each other. Up on Marchmont Street the man still smiles into the camera of his girl as she squats beside him on the sunny bench. No sunlight here exactly, in the little Poetry room with its walls of spines and titles – an older daylight reflects up from the open page, a light of rivers, reeds and orchards sunlight passes through. <br /><br /><br />Kenneth Hyam Jan 2012. <br />Urban LandscapesLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-46870569459031989072011-12-03T14:26:00.001-08:002011-12-04T13:53:29.308-08:00Story<div align="left"><br />Red Zodiac<br /><br />Tommy gradually began to realise that an X-ray and an extraction were not the same thing. An X-ray involved no taking out and was painless, whereas an extraction….The one good thing about the extraction was that Uncle Gerry was coming to take him there in the red Zodiac. There were Consuls on the estate, a grey Triumph and an ageing MG but certainly no Zodiacs. That was going to turn a few heads. The other good thing was that he was going to get an extra 1s pocket money on Saturday, which he calculated would make 2s .. 6d as opposed to the usual 1s .. 6d. When you added this to the 5s .. 6d he had already saved , it came to 8s which was one penny more than the price of the model Lysander aeroplane he was saving to buy. It was still there, in the window of the Ipswich Sports & Toyshop… Yet when Tommy awoke on the day, he felt a mounting sickness together with dreadful images of torture. His mother cooked him breakfast. Toast was not enough, she explained. He would get a headache on just toast. Tommy tried yet couldn’t eat a thing. Uncle Gerry laughed and even scoffed some of the egg while she was out of the room. He winked and wiped his moustache, knowing that if all the egg disappeared his older sister would be onto him. </div><br /><div align="left">Some time after the injection, which was a quick stab of pain, there was a crunch, a wrenching and a sound like a pencil being snapped. After the tooth was out, his mouth felt funny, trying to talk made him laugh, and his knees started to shake. On the motorway the speedo needle of the Zodiac went from 75 to 85 and touched 90. Tommy was forgetting about his tooth. They were off to see Haley in her caravan. She never made him eat anything, and she was often dressed in her costume, which was like a silvery glittering kind of swimsuit or bra. Still feeling drowsy from the injection, Tommy lay back on the comfy trim of the Zodiac’s front bench seat. His uncle was saying something about horse power, synchromesh and overhead cams. Tommy did not have much idea about what these were, just that they sounded good. When they got to the circus compound, Haley’s caravan door was open. She’d got him ice cream cake and cherry aid. Haley said the cake would be OK because it wasn’t hot.<br /><br />After he’d eaten some of the cake and drunk all the cherry aid, it was time to watch Haley and Tearaway rehearsing. Tommy loved the sound of the big hooves careering round the sawdust ring. Suddenly Haley was up on Tearaway’s back whispering into the two pointed ears as they spun past. Steadily, she began to raise first one leg and then the other onto the horse’s brown back. A second later she was standing up and spreading out her arms for balance. Uncle Gerry’s moustache and his lower lip had parted company. Tommy, in his unmathematical way, wondered why the tent was getting smaller, and he watched as the performer effortlessly shifted her weight until, standing on one leg, she became a perfectly streamlined shape. </div>Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-55532034135684881342011-06-24T03:36:00.000-07:002011-06-24T03:39:10.628-07:00Card PlayerCard Player<br /><br /><br /><br />A card player smokes at a folding table<br />on his balcony over the alleyway,<br />which is reached by other alleys and steps<br />worn smooth as a luck-stone always carried.<br /><br />He says the air’s better in his domain<br />fifteen feet up from the morning clatter<br />of chairs and bottles. He’s cool up there,<br />though the tuc-tucs come and the stalls are starting,<br /><br />and all over the city voices are stirring.<br />In his one-room palace his hand strengthens,<br />his quick hands flick as they flip his cards over<br />and as they land on the green cloth he exhales<br /><br />with the “Ah…” of one who makes a discovery<br />and an “Ah!” and “Ha-ha” of sudden good humour.<br />Though the game he controls is made of frustration<br />he’s fifteen feet up from it, in an air<br /><br />of elevated thought, an unshattered air,<br />and the card player delights in not knowing<br />what is going to happen next in his life<br />of cards. He smokes. Tea sweetens his throat.<br /><br /><br />***Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-720750425535533082011-05-09T08:00:00.001-07:002011-05-31T03:47:58.528-07:00Climbing towards the Light<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4fj3bXAaBGw/TcgCGTzJsLI/AAAAAAAAAW8/GDvQFkZNdCk/s1600/DSC_1175.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604732043679871154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4fj3bXAaBGw/TcgCGTzJsLI/AAAAAAAAAW8/GDvQFkZNdCk/s320/DSC_1175.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><strong>Climbing towards the Light</strong><br /><br /><br />There’s a ladder I have to climb,<br />that goes up like a white trellis<br />into the blue sky. The sun’s already up,<br />nothing is in front of me but this.<br />The white rungs quiver, steady up,<br />sway again – it all takes time.<br /><br />Too high now to go back down<br />I take my time and rest holding<br />onto the supports of thick-weave rope,<br />telling myself it’s easier to cling<br />than let go, believing I can cope,<br />cut off over a sleeping town.<br /><br />Trouble’s already starting there:<br />business begins as curtains stir,<br />the whole mechanism is a clock,<br />vast, faceless and sinister,<br />without face or hands or safety-lock<br />to stop it. It works on air<br /><br />as I do, and it feeds like us<br />and feeds off us – easy to forget<br />it is after all just a machine<br />that goes down streets in dry or wet,<br />fitting into each morning scene,<br />quotidian as the morning bus.<br /><br />I don’t climb to get away.<br />I quarry into the sunlight,<br />the unburst bubble of dust-seed air.<br />Sirens, planes, birds in incessant flight<br />will soon make nothing of my dare –<br />resting, I greet the swaying day.Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-78520703533194866162011-04-29T11:24:00.001-07:002011-04-29T11:27:54.049-07:00The Night MirrorI have recently made a short video of a poem called,The Night Mirror. If you would like to see it please be prepared to use headphone or speakers, go to Youtube and type in:<br /><br />The Night Mirror wmvLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-88290744263765953532011-03-07T04:14:00.000-08:002011-03-07T04:25:19.483-08:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3-1bIZwNPw/TXTN6XRXtwI/AAAAAAAAAWk/aD9IymEvMu8/s1600/Fujimarch%2B035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3-1bIZwNPw/TXTN6XRXtwI/AAAAAAAAAWk/aD9IymEvMu8/s320/Fujimarch%2B035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581312240781866754" /></a><br />Joyce explains that the way to get an Amaryllis to bloom again is to keep watering it after it flowers, say in December, all the way throught to September as a greenplant. Then not to water it (much) from October to December. Then to start watering it again. This has been born out by the reflowering of Joyce's Christmas 2009 Amaryllis which she was given as a present.<br /><br /><em>Reflowering Amaryllis</em><br /><br />That year of growing<br />taller and taller meant<br />you reached the ledge to bloom<br /><br />dear Amaryllis<br />thank you for sharing this - well<br />that's what people say...Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-81980117474233196812011-03-03T03:56:00.001-08:002011-03-07T04:26:31.529-08:00Feb 3 2011<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i86u32pfFtI/TW-CpEIdR8I/AAAAAAAAAWc/Bna9ycJN7to/s1600/Fujimarch%2B008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579822105330796482" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i86u32pfFtI/TW-CpEIdR8I/AAAAAAAAAWc/Bna9ycJN7to/s320/Fujimarch%2B008.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHW3E3CGg2U/TW-CRWRfQAI/AAAAAAAAAWU/TCdKYNt5bxk/s1600/Fujimarch%2B006curtain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579821697883652098" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHW3E3CGg2U/TW-CRWRfQAI/AAAAAAAAAWU/TCdKYNt5bxk/s320/Fujimarch%2B006curtain.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Feb 3 2011<br /><br />net curtain, yard - our<br />Xmas 2009 <br />amaryllis blooms!Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-34787394025337997432011-01-23T05:39:00.000-08:002011-01-23T05:45:36.666-08:00Everything's been thought ofI am delighted to be able to introduce this poem by guest contributor John Arnett:<br />Many thanks, John! Hope to see more of your work.<br /><br /><strong>Everything’s been thought of</strong><br /><br />Celebrity culture<br />Media vultures<br />Electrified fences<br />Flood defences<br />No win no fee<br />Reality TV<br />Airmiles and turnstiles<br />BOGOF and log off –<br />Everything’s been thought of<br />There’s nothing we’re short of.<br /><br />Binge drinking<br />Joined up thinking<br />Conspicuous wealth<br />Emotional health<br />Identity theft<br />Empty nest<br />Look away now<br />If you don’t want to know –<br />Everything’s been thought of<br />There’s nothing we’re short of<br /><br />Attention deficit<br />Short term benefit<br />Trophy wife<br />Allergic to life<br />Superbugs<br />Recreational drugs<br />User name<br />Repetitive strain –<br />Everything’s been thought of<br />There’s nothing we’re short of<br /><br />Radical preachers<br />Burned out teachers<br />Human resources<br />Rising divorces<br />Prequels, sequels<br />Botox, detox<br />Factory farming<br />Self harming –<br />Everything’s been thought of<br />There’s nothing we’re short of<br /><br />We’ve encountered a problem and we need to shut down<br />We’ve encountered a problem and we need to shut downLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-35658079351299162752011-01-16T14:23:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:11:58.701-08:00Leicester Square<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a3BJ3Q4vp0c/TTNwCuQwSgI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-XI8JJxYQGI/s1600/Jimmy%2527s22for%2Bblog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a3BJ3Q4vp0c/TTNwCuQwSgI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-XI8JJxYQGI/s320/Jimmy%2527s22for%2Bblog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562913156813048322" /></a><br /><br /><br />Leicester Square Cover Image<br /><br />I see myself in Leicester Square<br />which is a kind of overcoat<br />loose and comfortable to wear,<br />with bars and diamonds<br />and tree motifs,<br />and the weave itself<br />made up of tiny laughter<br />and griefs.<br /><br />Walking through mile-high drizzle<br />the people here<br />are dressed to dazzle:<br />there goes a giant eye,<br />here comes the Planet Mars.<br />Some are dressed<br />as teen-age gangs,<br />a few as cinemas.<br />A woman smiles at me,<br />her gown a shimmering clock<br />that strikes on the second.<br /><br />The carousel has run amok;<br />you can’t see the old grey-beard<br />who thinks it’s Derby Day;<br />the clouds fly past him,<br />Hitchcock’s Birds are coming.<br /><br /> Now that<br /> is weird:<br />I know that girl <br /> In the mini-dress –<br />I remember her corduroyness.<br /><br />A ghost steps out<br /> of a Silver Ghost,<br />a crowd of masked lone rangers gathers<br />gasps. Someone whispers, “Diamond!” or<br />“diamonds…” Is it Legs<br />or Neil or that man Bond?<br /><br />I tighten my belt<br /> as erically as I can<br />and amble on: it’s my coat that wanders<br />out of the lime-light<br />into the night, no cares<br />but The Care of Time.*<br /><br /><em>The Care of Time was Eric Ambler’s last novel.</em>Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826186.post-85194389769240270762011-01-06T11:09:00.000-08:002011-01-21T14:00:07.961-08:00Why I am not a Rockstar<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a3BJ3Q4vp0c/TSYcUJQLEwI/AAAAAAAAAUY/X3Z9geBd49A/s1600/Carnivale%2B036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559161922442171138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a3BJ3Q4vp0c/TSYcUJQLEwI/AAAAAAAAAUY/X3Z9geBd49A/s320/Carnivale%2B036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>WHY I AM NOT A ROCK STAR<br /><a href="http://www.enotes.com/why-am/text-poem">http://www.enotes.com/why-am/text-poem</a><br />A Tribute to Frank O’Hara (although I think I would have made a worse rock star than he would have a painter….<br /><br />You first realise<br />about John and the red guitar<br />when you see him with head down<br />guitar neck up and the note<br />the fingers wanted from the red<br />guitar flies out at the audience,<br />thru the floor, accelerates<br />beyond its old shape, and the singer sinks deeper<br />in his groove and the bassist<br />is fine-tuning the cellar.<br /><br />In the interval with a beer<br />pleased to see us,<br />he looks up quizzically, seems to see<br />a spinning falling coin<br />or as if lightning is spreading<br />across the sea, <br />the next set coming...<br /><br />By the time we<br />get to Angel<br />there are more people<br />going home than occupying<br />the restaurants and bars.<br />John’s a moving point<br />a van thru N.London<br />w/speakers amp and mikes.<br />Part of him has gone to Phoenix<br />and the rest of him’ll wake up to<br />the book he left off reading.<br /><br />And who am I – the guy<br />who can pump hell out of an upright piano?<br />or hold it all together on the drums?<br />My band is a wavelength<br />and my notes are in pencil –<br /><br />today with a Staedtler 2B pencil<br />in a notebook that cost a pound.<br />The bracket opens does not close<br />and a line ends/<br />or at least another begins</div>Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.com0