Favourite Poems

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Another revival of a popular thread, folks.

In the old board, this thread brought in some wonderful poetry from many contributors - thankee guys.

And it also carried some excellent original poems from members - almost like the small poetry magazines which largely have sadly ceased to exist in print.

So I'll kick it off -

This is quoted by Sai King in Danse Macabre as the epitome of what a good horror movie should do. -


FROM 'BUT EVEN SO' by KENNETH PATCHEN

Come now,
my child,
if we were planning
to harm you, do you think
we'd be lurking here
beside the path
in the very dark-
est part of
the forest?

'This is the mood which the best films of mythic 'fairy-tale' horror summon up in us'. Sai King


Long days and pleasant nights

[motherwolf]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think my very most all time favorite poem is the little Haiku that Ben wrote for Beverly in 'It'. I've got to look that up, I haven't read it in along time! Mornin' Sai!

[La Belladonna]

Thankee John - I always enjoyed the poem postings. I love this poem...it really needs to be read out loud for all to hear. I may not be able to relate to it on all of its levels, but as a woman this poem really speaks to and for me.


Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou


You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

[Anni M]

Perfect for this time of year...

WHEN ICICLES HANG BY THE WALL

When icicles hang by the wall,
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipp'd and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
Tu-whit;
Tu-who, a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all aloud the wind doth blow,
And coughing drowns the parson's saw,
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
And Marian's nose looks red and raw,
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
Tu-whit;
Tu-who, a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

(William Shakespeare
from Love's Labour's Lost)

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Another one from Robert Burns (1759-1796), Scotland's National bard. It tells the story of the horrendous Act of Union in 1707 when a cabal of less than a hundred Edinburgh lawyers, politicians and nobles sold out Scotland's nationality for less than £100,000.

It appalled Burns, and it still appalls me.

This is dedicated, with absolutely no respect whatever, to Gordon Brown , Alastair Darling and their brood who so much besmirch the Scottish name.

And, indeed, to ALL politicians.


PARCEL OF ROGUES

Fareweel to all our Scottish fame
Fareweel our ancient glory
Fareweel even to the Scottish name
Sae famed in martial story
Now Sark runs over the Solway Sands
And Tweed runs to the ocean
To mark where England's province stands
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation

What force or guile could not subdue
Through many warlike ages
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitor's wages
The English steel we could disdain
Secure in valour's station
But English gold has been our bane
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation

Oh would, e're I'd seen the day
That treason thus could fell us
My old gray head had lain in clay
With Bruce and loyal Wallace
But pith and power, to my last hour
I'll make this declaration
We are bought and sold for English gold
By a parcel of rogues in a nation

We are bought and sold for English gold
By a parcel of rogues in a nation


Long days and pleasant nights

[MadamMack]

[QUOTE=La Belladonna;94482]Thankee John - I always enjoyed the poem postings. I love this poem...it really needs to be read out loud for all to hear. I may not be able to relate to it on all of its levels, but as a woman this poem really speaks to and for me.


Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou


Maya Angelou is a favorite of mine . . .

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Not only a great poem, Anni, but a beautiful presentation as well, thankee.

This is one of my own that I posted a while ago on the old board (isn't it funny how that sounds?), but it's a personal favourite of mine so I make no apologies for re-posting it. It's actually a song, although a song without music sounds like a poem to me LOL, and it was inspired by the fact that I saw a lot of young(ish) men treating their ladies with what I considered a lack of appreciation.

So I thought I'd give them the benefit of my long experience, whether they wanted it or not LOL. I've never been happy with the title though.


A BIT ABOUT WOMEN

I've been in love four times, or maybe it was five
Frankly I think I'm lucky, lucky to have survived
But I learned a bit about women, somewhere along the way
So guys, listen to me, let me have my say

Treasure every moment, every minute with your love
For love itself it is a gift from beyond the stars above
Cherish her and keep her deep inside your heart
Cause you never know the moment you might be wrenched apart

I've been in love three times, or maybe it was four
I can't remember any more what we all split up for
But I learned a bit about women, somewhere along the way
So guys, listen to me, let me have my say

Don't let foolish words or thoughts get in your way
Tell her that you love her each and every single day
Every day together is very, very precious
Savour every second as long as the gods let us

I've been in love two times, or maybe it was three
I guess that I have never really wanted to be free
But I learned a bit about women somewhere along the way
So guys, listen to me, let me have my say

Love it really is a truly mystic thing
But time has a way of changing everything
So kiss your lady and love her one more time for me
For in time you will both certainly be free

I've been in love one time, or maybe it was two
But the time that I remember best is the time I spent with you
But I learned a bit about women somewhere along the way
So guys, listen to me, let me have my say

Don't take love for granted, that's the one thing she can't stand
Treat each day as a new day, grasp it in your hand
Buy your lady flowers when you've done nothing wrong
Write a poem for her or put it in a song

I've been in love one time, that much I do know
And the one time that I'm sure of I gave her my very soul
And all I've learned about women doesn't matter to me now
So love your lady all you can, and you? You'll get by somehow


Long days and pleasant nights

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

One of my own -


HAPPY NEW YEAR

May I wish you a Happy New Year?
A year of hope, a year without fear
A year much better than the last
May all your futures surpass your past

I wish you all you'd wish yourselves
A year of good luck and better health
To you and yours, I wish you all the best
And may next year be better than the rest

So fill your glass and pause awhile
It's friends and family make life worthwhile
We'll drink a toast to absent friends
And shed a tear as the old year ends


Have a wonderful time, everybody, see you next year!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Kim L.]

Merrily swinging on brier and weed,
Near to the nest of his little dame,
Over the mountain-side or mead,
Robert of Lincoln is telling his name:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Snug and safe is that nest of ours,
Hidden among the summer flowers,
Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln is gayly drest,
Wearing a bright black wedding-coat;
White are his shoulders and white his crest
Hear him call in his merry note:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Look, what a nice coat is mine.
Sure there was never a bird so fine.
Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,
Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,
Passing at home a patient life,
Broods in the grass while her husband sings
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Brood, kind creature; you need not fear
Thieves and robbers while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee.

Six white eggs on a bed of hay,
Flecked with purple, a pretty sight!
There as the mother sits all day,
Robert is singing with all his might:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Nice good wife, that never goes out,
Keeping house while I frolic about.
Chee, chee, chee.

Soon as the little ones chip the shell,
Six wide mouths are open for food;
Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well,
Gathering seeds for the hungry brood.
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-linl,
Spink, spank, spink;
This new life is likely to be
Hard for a gay young fellow like me.
Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln at length is made
Sober with work, and silent with care;
Off is his holiday garment laid,
Half forgotten that merry air:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Nobody knows but my mate and I
Where our nest and out nestlings lie.
Chee, chee, chee.

Summer wanes; the children are grown;
Fun and frolic no more he knows;
Robert of Lincoln's a humdrum crone;
Off he flies, and we sing as he goes:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
When you can pipe that merry old strain,
Robert of Lincoln, come back again.
Chee, chee, chee.


"Robert of Lincoln"
William Cullen Bryant

(A childhood favorite_

[Charms7]

This thread is neato to the cheeto, John! I mean, it's very enjoyable. Thankee for starting it. Now, I've got to get busy looking up poems well loved.