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Is Poetry a Dead Art? (Part 4)

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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,333
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    Nelson Column

    If the spirit of Horatio Nelson inhabited that hard to see image
    of an attribution of him from a grateful nation atop its column.
    The icon pigeon smeared statue in Trafalgar Square, imagine
    a ghostly conversation from the plinth above tourists' scrums.
    Long dead Admiral Nelson spoke to loyal Thomas Hardy
    with concrete croak: “You see better than I, with my one
    eye, Thomas. Tell me pray what do they with such devices,
    the people below pointing up at me?” Guano shards fell
    from his calcified lips towards the crowd. “Damned birds
    defectating on me for ever, now this horde.” “My Lord,” said
    Hardy, “It is, I read, called a selfie picture made of themselves
    with your monument. It is a supremely selfish society: the mobs’
    modern way, in this newly world. Self before duty and all else."
    His stony eyes froze to its sculted pose looking forward to the
    square scape, one arm holding a sword. Nelson slipped invisibly away.
    He was at peace that his city haunt was over, returned to the
    usual jaunt in fields of clover, with his lover Lady Hamilton. Happy
    as ever was, given a ghost of a chance, to do his duty.
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
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    wizzywick wrote:
    Sorry Sandy but I'm going to be contrary! Whilst I enjoyed your poem (as ever), I don't want there to be anymore blue sky for a while! I want cold, gloomy days and a proper, old fashioned winter! It's been warm and sunny for way too long now!

    Hi Wizzy, there is unusual weather for this time of year but a little blue sky is good sometimes during the day and the colder evenings for tea, biscuits and slippers.:D
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    AlbacomAlbacom Posts: 34,578
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    Noe Soap wrote: »
    Nelson Column

    If the spirit of Horatio Nelson inhabited that hard to see image
    of an attribution of him from a grateful nation atop its column.
    The icon pigeon smeared statue in Trafalgar Square, imagine
    a ghostly conversation from the plinth above tourists' scrums.
    Long dead Admiral Nelson spoke to loyal Thomas Hardy
    with concrete croak: “You see better than I, with my one
    eye, Thomas. Tell me pray what do they with such devices,
    the people below pointing up at me?” Guano shards fell
    from his calcified lips towards the crowd. “Damned birds
    defectating on me for ever, now this horde.” “My Lord,” said
    Hardy, “It is, I read, called a selfie picture made of themselves
    with your monument. It is a supremely selfish society: the mobs’
    modern way, in this newly world. Self before duty and all else."
    His stony eyes froze to its sculted pose looking forward to the
    square scape, one arm holding a sword. Nelson slipped invisibly away.
    He was at peace that his city haunt was over, returned to the
    usual jaunt in fields of clover, with his lover Lady Hamilton. Happy
    as ever was, given a ghost of a chance, to do his duty.

    That is a nice, atmospheric poem. I enjoyed it.
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    wizzywick wrote: »
    Coincidentally I too have just finished reading Oliver Twist. What I found surprising is how totally different it is to screen adaptations..
    I found that too - there's so much more to the book, although David Lean's film is great. There are also large sections where Oliver isn't present at all.
    wizzywick wrote: »
    Wow! Just wow. That last verse (quoted above) is superb! Thanks musty. Yet another enjoyable read.
    Ta Wizzy :)
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    Noe Soap wrote: »
    [“Damned birds
    defectating on me for ever, now this horde."
    Another funny poem Frank :D It's such a shame the pigeons were driven away from Trafalgar Square.
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    Vampiress

    I advertise myself in local papers
    And change my name to 'Vicky' for the chore,
    Male readers think I'm only
    A woman who is lonely,
    A one-night stand, another chance to score.

    I always wear a sexy little number,
    Max Factor makes my features come alive,
    Chanel is good for sprinkling,
    Nobody has an inkling
    I've been around since fifteen twenty-five.

    On dates if I am questioned by a suitor
    The answers given are a pack of lies,
    How often I've pretended
    And when the meal has ended
    They get that hopeful look inside their eyes.

    The drive home to my flat increases tension,
    I ask them in for coffeee, well aware
    Although it is destructive
    An offer so seductive
    Will be accepted by men everywhere.

    I play them Lady Grinning Soul by Bowie,
    The candles flicker while we're having sex,
    But just before eruption
    There comes an interruption
    When fangs sink into unsuspecting necks.

    They scream in pain and pleasure as I savour
    Elixir sweet as any vintage wine,
    Delicious, red and sticky,
    Some even murmur 'Vicky'
    In passion as our bloody limbs entwine.

    The Prince of Darkness told me to seduce them,
    His bite was like a torturer's hot brand,
    I made love to the undead
    And now I have the one bed
    Where ecstasy and bliss go hand in hand.


    ©
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    The thread was seven years old yesterday :o

    Happy Birthday to us all :D
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    AlbacomAlbacom Posts: 34,578
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    Re: Vampiress:

    Love it musty! Made me feel a little uncomfortable and it made me smile. A brilliant contrasting poem. It inspired me to post one I wrote, but be warned: it's a whopper! I wanted to write a non-sensical story with a bit of eerie-ness attached. It was written for fun, but it's one long continuous verse. Hope you (and all you guys on here) like it:

    The Quickest Way to Hell

    As freezing rain pours from an angry sky,
    Lights from cars dazzle as they drive on by
    This is a night that will be endless and black,
    I am lost on this road, there's no turning back.
    There's a tumbledown house beyond on the hill,
    When I see it I feel an enigmatic chill.
    Something's amiss, I can't figure what
    So I travel to the house, carrying all that I've got.
    The rocky track to the hill is narrow and unlit,
    I trip and in panic upon a mound I do sit.
    From the troubled sky, rain continues to fall,
    In the distance I can hear a scream, perhaps a distress call.
    I am startled at the menacing noise that I hear,
    And I continue on my journey, with newly found fear.
    The hill path is steep and eternally long.
    That scream I heard, was something wrong?
    Was someone perishing alone in this rain?
    Were they hurt, or in terrible pain?
    It is baffling at what goes through your head
    In times when you're apprehensive and filled with dread.
    Eventually I get to the house, and I knock on the door.
    There is no answer, but I hear a scream once more.
    It came from beyond, over there in the wood,
    It didn't sound normal, it didn't sound good.
    Once more on the door of the house I rap,
    At the very same time as a huge thunder clap.
    The scream I heard echoes, it pierces my mind,
    Someone is out there, but my conscience is blind.
    As lightning flashes throughout the sky,
    My innerself wonders if I'm about to die.
    So I try the door-knob and it opens up wide,
    It is dark within but I venture inside.
    At least it is dry, there is no one about.
    At the top of my voice I eagerly shout.
    But no one hears me, the house is bare,
    It is certain that no one dwells in there.
    Outside I hear the scream, but this time it's near.
    I try to ignore the noises I hear.
    I should go and investigate, to put peace in my head,
    But part of me thinks that I'll end up dead!
    As the rain keeps falling and the thunder roars,
    I explore the house and I open its doors.
    Behind every one is nothing, a mass of doom
    Bringing sorrow and blackness to every room.
    The scream is louder, and then louder still,
    And someone's behind me, I am feeling a chill.
    I look around and am amazed at what's there.
    A blood laden woman with an evil stare.
    Her head is tilted, it leans to the right.
    I nervously ask her if she's alright.
    She opens her mouth, and then starts to cry
    As rain continues falling from the starless sky.
    As thunder roars and lightning beams,
    Nothing is really as it all seems.
    The crying woman is sobbing out her heart,
    And she bursts out some words - her story does start.
    She crashed her car, on a road across the moor.
    She went for help but couldn't find her way back anymore.
    She took many a path but they led her away,
    So in this tumbledown house she decided to stay.
    She tripped in the woods, she cut open her head,
    And the incident filled her with terror and dread.
    She started to scream as she was hungry and cold
    Longing to meet someone who can help and behold.
    This troublesome night is eerie and wet.
    There's still many hours until morning yet!
    Our cars are deserted, we are stranded alone,
    Hungry, thirsty and chilled to the bone.
    As the night progressed and the rain stopped falling,
    On my mobile phone I decided to start calling.
    A signal was absent, so no calls could be made.
    But now safe in the house, our fear started to fade.
    As the rain dried up and the moon started to shine,
    Everything around seemed perfect and fine.
    A beautiful light shining to the ground below,
    Brightening the world with its silver glow.
    The moon was full, the stars were bright,
    A chill was present in this endless night.
    But, as the moon shone through the tumbledown shack,
    The blood laden woman was lying, in pain on her back.
    She was wriggling and writhing as if fighting for breath
    Was I witnessing her untimely death?
    But she got up and stretched her arms out wide,
    I felt discomfort and terror building inside.
    Her hands turned to claws, her face started to change,
    And suddenly there before me, was something fiercesome and strange
    She was a werewolf, she came straight out of hell!
    All of a sudden, I didn't feel very well!
    She started to howl and she looked into my face,
    I knew I had to get out of this place.
    Out of the house I ran down the hill,
    The world was silent, the world was still.
    Then down a hole I went, I tripped and I fell,
    I thought this was the quickest way to get to hell!....

    But hell I didn't get to, I was safe in my bed,
    For the day before I tripped and hit my head!
    I was resting and drearily nursing my brow
    And the werewolf slipped into my dreams somehow!
    Perhaps a movie I watched, a TV show,
    And the characters into a tumbledown house did go.
    But, as my friend brought me shopping into my home,
    She started to let out a tiresome groan.
    The moon outside was silver and bright,
    Then I heard a sound that gave me a fright.
    My friend let out a howl, I ran out of the door,
    I didn't want to have her as a friend anymore..............

    (c)
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    scottie2121scottie2121 Posts: 11,284
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    A really old one here

    Three Views Of A Tree

    1

    At
    the edge
    of the woods
    stands my tree.
    Every morning I gaze out
    from my bedroom window and see it,
    standing patiently by the path into the woods,
    waiting for me to come out to play.
    The autumn wind is shaking its branches bare
    and all around its sun-dappled roots swirl the brown leaves
    that once covered my tree in shimmering green.
    The familiar knotted faces on the trunk look down on me
    and I call out their names and tease them for their
    dumb expressions that change under the arcing sun.
    Every day I dance under its gathering arms,
    hands waving free above my head,
    feet scrunching through the crisp leaves,
    the seeds, the splintered twigs,
    kicking up
    swirls and
    showers,
    covering
    myself with
    the smell
    of the woods,
    joyfully
    falling down
    onto cushions
    of leaves,
    staring up
    through the
    criss-cross
    of branches
    through to the clear,
    blue sky of my childhood.




    2

    The
    blackened
    skeleton veins
    of leaves pile up,
    rotten, on the damp ground.
    Spindled branches, like the wasted limbs
    of a hundred cadavers, arch over my head,
    clasping to themselves the rotting stench of death
    and dying that rises from all around my feet.
    The mocking, twisted faces peering out
    from the trunk crudely mirror my soul
    with their shadowed expressions.
    I idly kick a fractured branch
    which breaks with a dully
    satisfying thup and
    spreads a cloud
    of dusty
    spores
    from the
    vampiric
    fungi that
    have drained
    away its life.
    I breathe
    the thick air
    with a grim
    smile of
    friendship.
    It suits my time
    and mood to be here.











    3

    I
    am drawn
    back this autumn
    to the tree of my childhood.
    In the distance I see its familiar,
    stark shape by the overgrown path
    into the woods. My old home,
    long emptied of laughter and love and tears,
    seems to be part of another life, out of my
    memory, fading into the distance over my shoulder.
    The low, golden sunlight strikes the burnished damp-dewed leaves that
    decorate the floor around the foot of the tree. I walk closer, ever
    closer to my tree, drawn by the rich copper, bronze, gold hues
    of each fallen leaf, beaten by Nature’s hand into its own
    precious hue. I gently stoop, then kneel and peer down
    at the dew-speckled ground. I observe each leaf,
    each cell in its own brilliance and remember
    that long-ago smell of damp
    and decay. I look around
    my feet and
    no longer
    see death,
    just leaves
    sapping
    into the
    Earth.
    Ants
    scurrying
    with scraps
    down into
    the ground.
    Earthworms
    tugging
    leaves
    into the soil
    to feed,
    nurture,
    recycle,
    resurrect
    that which
    was once dead
    into a spring awakening.
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    wizzywick wrote: »
    The Quickest Way to Hell
    What a corker of a tale Wizzy :D It must have taken ages to write but it kept me hooked from the start. Certain films came to mind reading this, including the marvellous An American Werewolf In London :o:D

    I'm glad you enjoyed Vampiress, thanks for the feedback :) A few of my poems are written from a female perspective, an exercise I quite enjoy :blush::D
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    Three Views Of A Tree
    A superb piece Sandy - epic, dark and Poe-like throughout. The descriptions here are so clear that I could really visualize the trees in all their glory.
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    mr. mustardmr. mustard Posts: 48,888
    Forum Member
    LS Lowry's Bird's-Eye Views

    LS Lowry's
    Bird's-eye views,
    Rarely are skies blue,
    LS Lowry's
    Crowds and queues
    Doing what they do.

    Chimney smoke
    Sustained by coal,
    Factories of grey
    Guarantee
    Another dull
    Humdrum English day.

    Nothing much
    Occurred of note,
    Streets are always bleak
    Where the busy
    Matchstick herd
    Work five days a week.

    He admitted
    Loneliness
    Was the only way,
    Bird's-eye views
    Achieved success
    Distanced from the fray.

    LS Lowry
    Painted clear
    Scenes of what he saw;
    Real people in
    Lancashire
    As they were before.


    ©
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    AlbacomAlbacom Posts: 34,578
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    ✭✭✭
    A really old one here


    Three Views Of A Tree


    Scottie, that is absolutely stunning. One of the most well imagined poems I've ever read. As musty says it has an air of Edgar Allan Poe about it. An absolute belter. Thanks for sharing.
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    AlbacomAlbacom Posts: 34,578
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    LS Lowry's Bird's-Eye Views

    Another cracking poem musty.
    i was thinking about Izzy this morning. I hope she's OK. She hasn't posted for awhile. So, Izzy, if you're reading, hello and hope you are well.
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    AlbacomAlbacom Posts: 34,578
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    A simpler poem today. Based upon the philosophy that life is for living:

    Celebrations


    Life seems to pass on by,
    Without us realising it.
    There's too much standing, rushing
    But not much time to sit.
    We barely even notice
    When daytime turns to night
    Yet every day, without asking
    We assume everyone's alright.
    We do not understand
    Another person's tears,
    We never try to remedy
    Another person's fears.

    We let each seperate day,
    Merge into one.
    We want the day to finish
    Before it has begun.
    A special occasion
    Passes by
    And yet we continue as before,
    The sun shining in the sky
    Casts our shadows upon the floor.

    For we need to celebrate
    Life should be lived to the excess.
    Enjoy, laugh and learn to love
    To diminsh those times of stress.
    Everyday should be a celebration
    Of all that we have got
    And when we lay things in a pile
    We learn we've got a lot.
    There's no need to keep on pushing
    To race through days and hours,
    For by doing that we miss the sun
    And only get the showers.
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    A superb piece Sandy - epic, dark and Poe-like throughout. The descriptions here are so clear that I could really visualize the trees in all their glory.
    :o

    Musty, that's not a poem of mine.:confused:

    I like the way scottie2121 has made the poem look like trees.:D
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Three Views Of A Tree

    1

    At
    the edge
    of the woods
    stands my tree.
    Every morning I gaze out
    from my bedroom window and see it,
    standing patiently by the path into the woods,
    waiting for me to come out to play.
    The autumn wind is shaking its branches bare
    and all around its sun-dappled roots swirl the brown leaves
    that once covered my tree in shimmering green.
    The familiar knotted faces on the trunk look down on me
    and I call out their names and tease them for their
    dumb expressions that change under the arcing sun.
    Every day I dance under its gathering arms,
    hands waving free above my head,
    feet scrunching through the crisp leaves,
    the seeds, the splintered twigs,
    kicking up
    swirls and
    showers,
    covering
    myself with
    the smell
    of the woods,
    joyfully
    falling down
    onto cushions
    of leaves,
    staring up
    through the
    criss-cross
    of branches
    through to the clear,
    blue sky of my childhood.




    2

    The
    blackened
    skeleton veins
    of leaves pile up,
    rotten, on the damp ground.
    Spindled branches, like the wasted limbs
    of a hundred cadavers, arch over my head,
    clasping to themselves the rotting stench of death
    and dying that rises from all around my feet.
    The mocking, twisted faces peering out
    from the trunk crudely mirror my soul
    with their shadowed expressions.
    I idly kick a fractured branch
    which breaks with a dully
    satisfying thup and
    spreads a cloud
    of dusty
    spores
    from the
    vampiric
    fungi that
    have drained
    away its life.
    I breathe
    the thick air
    with a grim
    smile of
    friendship.
    It suits my time
    and mood to be here.











    3

    I
    am drawn
    back this autumn
    to the tree of my childhood.
    In the distance I see its familiar,
    stark shape by the overgrown path
    into the woods. My old home,
    long emptied of laughter and love and tears,
    seems to be part of another life, out of my
    memory, fading into the distance over my shoulder.
    The low, golden sunlight strikes the burnished damp-dewed leaves that
    decorate the floor around the foot of the tree. I walk closer, ever
    closer to my tree, drawn by the rich copper, bronze, gold hues
    of each fallen leaf, beaten by Nature’s hand into its own
    precious hue. I gently stoop, then kneel and peer down
    at the dew-speckled ground. I observe each leaf,
    each cell in its own brilliance and remember
    that long-ago smell of damp
    and decay. I look around
    my feet and
    no longer
    see death,
    just leaves
    sapping
    into the
    Earth.
    Ants
    scurrying
    with scraps
    down into
    the ground.
    Earthworms
    tugging
    leaves
    into the soil
    to feed,
    nurture,
    recycle,
    resurrect
    that which
    was once dead
    into a spring awakening.

    Your poem looks like trees:D
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Happy Birthday to us all :D

    Happy Birthday:D
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    wizzywick wrote:
    A simpler poem today. Based upon the philosophy that life is for living:

    Celebrations


    Great poem, wizzywick, celebrations to you :D
  • Options
    IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    wizzywick wrote: »
    Another cracking poem musty.
    i was thinking about Izzy this morning. I hope she's OK. She hasn't posted for awhile. So, Izzy, if you're reading, hello and hope you are well.

    Hello :) im still around. I keep getting email notifications of replies to this thread - I hadn't checked here in a while, so finally thought I maybe should but I haven't written in a while. I'd like to but haven't been in the right frame of mind. I've been very angry lately, there's been lots of shouting (mostly from me :-/) and I get tired of writing negative pieces. I have numerous books to read too but I rarely feel motivated to read either, at the moment.
  • Options
    IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Ok, how's this? not great, a bit repetitive but ok, I think(?).

    The Moon In The Dark of Night by IzzyS

    Do you ever wonder,
    what lies beyond?
    in the cold of night,
    on a crisp winters eve,
    look above and consider
    what may be.

    Some nights the moon appears;
    bold as brass,
    proudly prominent in the skyline,
    reminding us that there's more.

    Up above and far into the distance,
    a curiosity may be stirred in us -
    as we ponder what is yet to be discovered?
    where do we sit, in the grand scheme of things?.

    Still the moon watches over us,
    shining light down on a blanket of darkness,
    where in parts illuminations do not reach.

    As the year heads towards its inevitable end,
    celebrations begin, our excuse to look past what we're given,
    cold, dark days, the uncertainty to what extent mother natures grip will be felt,
    from one year to the next winters hold on us may vary,
    yet as a species we refuse to let the bleakness overwhelm us,
    on bonfire night, bright explosions of colour zig zag, explode and trickle down,
    booming noises echo throughout towns far and wide,
    and soon lights will be switched on, in preparation for the festive season,
    as we console ourselves - put our decorations up and convince ourselves,
    things aren't so dark and bleak, are they?
    After all, Spring only ever follows Winter.
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Interesting poem Izzy.:D
    Have you seen the Moon tonight Izzy?

    Quite bright a shine, doesn't say much but always there from afar as the stars, they say nothing, absolutely nothing.:D
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    The Weekend

    You thanked me
    like a hurricane
    as I thanked you
    like the autumn rain
    after you went
    came the afterthought
    as the weekend begins
  • Options
    IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    sandydune wrote: »
    Interesting poem Izzy.:D
    Have you seen the Moon tonight Izzy?

    Quite bright a shine, doesn't say much but always there from afar as the stars, they say nothing, absolutely nothing.:D

    Funnily enough I saw it shine through my curtains this evening, thats what prompted it *quelle surprise* :)
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    sandydunesandydune Posts: 10,986
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    IzzyS wrote:
    Funnily enough I saw it shine through my curtains this evening, thats what prompted it *quelle surprise* :)
    quelle surprise, so french.:D
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