How could I not write about seasons during this turbulent weather?!
Glimpses of sun and warmth filtering through vicious wind and chill.
So I selected the verse that used to be on the back of exercise books. There are two versions but I chose this one because it was longer. Now, we all know this one and it’s followed by a beautiful piece by Christina Rossetti, which is far more visual…..
Thirty days has September,
April, June, and November,
All the rest have thirty-one,
Save February at twenty-eight,
But leap year, coming once in four,
February then has one day more.
Traditional
My Lady Spring
My Lady Spring is dressed in green,
She wears a primrose crown,
And little baby buds and twigs
Are clinging to her gown;
The sun shines if she laughs at all,
But if she weeps the raindrops fall.
Christina Rossetti
Wasn’t that a lovely piece? How I wish we could see her read live.
Now, you must tell me your favourite seasons and poems! That’s an order!
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action and some exciting news real soon….
Do you remember The News of the World, that old Sunday staple? Well, this following poem is not dissimilar to one of their scandalous headlines!
Our cub reporter was there in person, readers, and brought us all the scandal of this poetry party and their lewd behaviour! Such an expose! Read on if you dare….
Sestina fell in love with Haiku
Swearing blind their love was true
Limerick swooned over Trimeric’s verses
So did Villanelle – who muttered curses
Triadic held tight onto Epic’s arm
Staying susceptible to Elfchen’s charm
One Minute Poem with Tanka flirted
All Serious issues completely skirted
Didactic gave their orders and instructions
Tritina went through the usual functions
Ekphrastic and Dactylic Hexameter kissed
While the sonnets were busy getting pissed
The Chant poem just went on and on
While nonet and couplets got it on
For Triolet, it was love at first sight
Walking with Madrigal in the moonlight
(The Italian version!)
H Moulson 2023
Would you believe it, PL’s?! Those nice innocuous poems! Or so we thought! Stunned and shocked by their behaviour! Any poetry scandal you have, please pass this way! Good for circulation!
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back real soon….
I’m afraid this post is by invitation only, and NO trainers beyond this point! This is the party event of the year.
I was just reading about Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball in ‘66 which was the triumphant event of the season! Well, not anymore, Mr Capote! Eat your heart out!
Wonderful poet Sharron Green has given us the party to end all parties. Only the very elite are sent a gilt-edged invitation. Those chosen guests, please line up at the door……
Poetry Party
A poetry party’s odes of fun, it flows so well, excuse the pun.
There’s room for all from far and wide, both long and short stand side by side.
There’s Limerick who’s such a card, and Sonnet posing as the bard.
Pantoum all dolled up like a dame, and Villanelle the household name.
Sestina leaves all guests in awe, but Epic has been known to bore.
Elfchens and nonets take good care they count their words so none are spare.
Haiku and Tanka spend the night ensuring syllables are right.
A few like ghazal and rondeau repeat themselves but charm us though.
Some guests are free verse others rhyme and all rejoice at party time!
@rhymes_n_roses
Wasn’t that just a terrific party?! Thank you for that, Sharron. Please keep those invitations coming.
Now, PL’s, I’m sure you’ve got a terrific social engagement to share with us. Answers on a postcard please.
Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers, we’ll be back real soon…..
Now I usually have a bit of a block with dinner parties – meaning I avoid them like the plague!
However, not this one, I’d be breaking down the door to attend, and I wouldn’t be fashionably late either! I’d be the first in the queue.
Clever poet Trisha Broomfield has created an ideal poetry dinner party which everyone in town would dream of being invited to. An equivalent to Truman Capote’s Black & White Balls in Manhattan. What a great piece, Trisha, thank you so much
Dinner Party Verse
Begin with simple couplets,
(You don’t want to overwhelm your guests).
Serve a sparkling Villanelle (shows a knowledge of form)
place bowls of acrostic around the table
Offer a choice of meaty sestina or light cinquain,
season with vowels (a and e only)
this course is best accompanied with a light lyric,
or a more full bodied pantoum, one glass per guest.
Make allowances for any guest who may have haiku,
and those who require a triolet break.
Nonets will calm digestion,
you may include free verse for those rhyme sensitive.
Well, I keep hearing the words Poetry Soup lately and I couldn’t resist sharing my family poetry recipes. All out of my dog eared poetry cookbook, natch. I hope this piece inspires some great poetry meals…..
Poetry Soup
Put in some vowels
Cook on a low heat
until they grow
Then throw in some rhymes
and a drizzling of syllables
before pouring in some humour
Cook till there is genuine warmth
and interpretation
At the least you’ll be simmering
a nice juicy triolet
At the most an alphabet form.
Left to mature they could become
a duplex or a chant
Tuck in and enjoy
Alternatively fry 17 syllables with some nature
and creative oil for a haiku. Or 11 words
for a tasty Elfchen. Avoid limericks if you can.
Skinny poems go on a more medium heat but beware of lines 2, 6 and 10. Do not over season.
Or just throw some ideas in a big pan haphazardly for a free form piece.
For a Trimeric broth, or a Golden Shovel stew, see page 17
For the more ambitious who want to make a
villanelle or sestina, use your slow cooker for
several hours.
For an epic poem simmer overnight.
Be wary that the dactylic hexameters and stressed syllables don’t over cook.
I hope you jotted these recipes down, PL’s, because I want to see the finished products. I know you’ll brew up a fine concoction. A Ghazal pie perhaps? Or a couplet soufflé? The possibilities are endless.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….
Sigh! If only this was true, Poetry Lovers. However, if I’m not skinny, my poem today definitely is. I love the structure of the skinny poem and here is my own effort.
Mirrors have always been a bit eerie and wicked stepmother-ish and bottomless. I feel the one in this piece is no exception. I hope you like it.
Skinny Mirror
My face in the mirror
Bored
Flawed
Crabby
Shabby
Bored
Tainted
Painted
Forlorn
Bored
The mirror on my face
H Moulson 2023
Now I know without even asking you that you have a skinny poem in you. Send in on a postcard please…….
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Stay tuned for more poetry action real soon…..
We were all shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of Carla Scarano. Not only a talented poet but a beautiful human being.
A big part of my amazing poetry journey, Carla was supportive every step of the way. A prolific writer with her reviews and stunning poetry, Carla also kept up a busy and absorbing website. I couldn’t stop being impressed by Carla and her beautiful work.
We, at Poetry Performance, had the honour of Carla reading for us on Sunday 5th March (2023). So my memory of her is very recent indeed.
Carla was so vibrant, looking lovely and reading beautifully, translating English into Italian. The whole room was impressed.
In the interval, me and my friend Mary sat down with Carla and had a lovely deep talk about Italy and her background. I’m so happy we did that. Such a lovely memory of a lovely person.
Talking of memories, at the Lightbox in Woking some years ago, Carla on her recent return from visiting Canada, put out lovely and intricate cards on the tables. Each one had a Margaret Atwood poem. Along with some chocolates. That’s the kind of generous person Carla was. Chocolate long gone, but I still have one of those beautiful cards.
Also, on my last very recent visit to the Lightbox, Carla gave out chocolate heart sweets to us. Such a lovely gesture.
Carla will be so sadly missed. As my ‘regulars’ know, I had the honour of interviewing Carla in June last year. (Link below). I also reviewed her two talented collections
Adoring these personal collections both, I will post one from Carla’s current book Workwear. It was hard to choose but I’ve selected Good Friday. There are many personal classy poems in this collection but this piece truly reflected Carla’s Italian roots and her new life in England.
Good Friday
I was surprised to see you at church
on Good Friday,
the day of betrayal and killing,
when we kiss the naked body on the cross
and cry for all our losses.
You were there with your deaf mother,
I was there with mine and her elderly friends.
We quickly caught up fifteen years,
my move to England, the new job,
my son’s wedding, graduations,
my father’s death and my mum living happily.
You were just the same, unmarried,
helping old relatives
organizing their lives and yours,
travelling alone mostly,
your sister pulling out.
Everything looked under control,
neat words ordering a life.
Carla Scarano D’Antonio 2022
We will never forget you, Carla.
Here is the link to Carla’s interview if you would like to have a look.
Inspired by the fabulous Sharron Green and Trisha Broomfield at the Poetry Party workshop at Solar Sisters Cafe this Wednesday, I got my head down and tackled this fascinating form.
You won’t be surprised to see that the piece is nostalgic. Didn’t we all dread the end of school holidays?!
Do read on…
The betraying spring that sprung my sorrows
Only Meant going back to school
The end of my late bedtimes
And going to the shops
For chocolate bars
A dreadful hand
To be Dealt
Out by
Life
H Moulson 2023
I hope you enjoyed that, PL’s. As you see for yourself, the first line is 9 syllables, then 8…… and I know you have a nonet in you, so on a postcard please to the usual address.
Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon. Don’t touch that dial!
When I came across The Golden Shovel, I was mightily confused by the term, but I came across this version/form.
Getting a quote from another’s poem with at least 10 words, and moving the relevant word in every following line sounded easy but I found it a struggle. Hopefully it paid off.
Many many thanks to Annie Havell who kindly gave permission for me to use a line from her lovely piece Silence from the recent anthology Poems for the Ukraine.
I’m not quite sure how Dobby got in on the act but she appears to feature here. Do read on….
I awake before sunrise and feeling an urge to walk
Silence by Annie Havell 2022
I can’t believe I’m up early again!
To awake in that grim half light
Nearly up before the milkman
I don’t welcome sunrise, too cheerful
I’ve got an interview and a meeting
I do get the sinking feeling I’ll be sleepy
I’ll eat some apples and have an orange for energy
I will not get an sudden unnecessary urge to doze
The most tempting and easy way out is to sleep
I resolve that I will go healthy route and walk
Wasn’t that just a terrific piece?! An intriguing form and worth trying.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…. Whoops! Here’s Dobby with an invoice for her services….
I make no apologies for staying on my favourite subject Cats! So fittingly, the lovely prolific poet Sharon Andrews has penned this beautiful cat sonnet.
Featuring a wonderful alphabet series, this is Sharon using the C word as a sonnet. And using it very wisely. Excellent subject, Sharon, and thank you for letting me put this lovely piece up in lights.
Cat Sonnet
The cat is such a curious creature
Sometimes aloof, sometimes affectionate
Sometimes a queen, most often a leader
Cat’s owner a slave to her temperament
If cat loves you She might bring you a gift
Something Special to decorate the house
Puss will be offended should you feel miffed
By the sight of a dead bird or squashed mouse
Cat will eat her meals when she’s in the mood
Some days she will eye her dinner with disdain
You’ll worry and treat her to gourmet food
Calling her to come in from the rain
You’ll love her and maybe she’ll love you too
It’s simply chance, there’s nothing you can do
ShAndrews 2023
Wasn’t that beautiful?! Look out for Sharon’s Instagram feed @inksomnia_poetry where this clever poet features amazing sonnets and other skilled pieces. Thank you so much, Sharon, keep them coming.
Thanks so much for tuning in, PL’s. And I want to see your cat poems. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
cookbook, natch. I hope this piece inspires some great poetry meals…..
Heather Moulson 