K. Morris's Blog, page 238

For The Love Of Poetry

Yesterday, I came across an article by Melik Kaylan entitled “For the Love of Poetry”, https://www.forbes.com/2009/04/06/memorize-poetry-education-opinions-columnists-thomas-hardy.html.

Kaylan offers a spirited defence of traditional (rhyming) poetry, and of the benefits flowing from memorising it.

I vividly recollect learning Alfred Noyes’s poem “The Highwayman as a child, and reciting it to an audience, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43187/the-highwayman. Noyes’s poem has a wonderful r...

Whilst Walking Through A Very Thick Mist

Whilst walking through a very thick mist

I met with my friend the anthologist.

He said “take a look

At this fine poetry book”.

But I couldn’t see through the mist!

On Glancing Under My Large Double Bed

On glancing under my large double bed

I found a young lady in red.

Her name it is Lou

And she’s mislaid a shoe.

So I’m helping Lou under my bed.

“The Ballad of Lenin’s Tomb” by Robert William Service

The below extract is taken from “The Ballad of Lenin’s Tomb, a satirical and witty poem by Robert William Service:

“Where Lenin lies the red flag flies, and the rat-grey workers wait

To tread the gloom of Lenin’s Tomb, where the Comrade lies in state.

With lagging pace they scan his face, so weary yet so firm;

For years a score they’ve laboured sore to save him from the worm.

The Kremlin walls are grimly grey, but Lenin’s Tomb is red,

And pilgrims from the Sour Lands say: “He sleeps and is not ...

When A Young Lady Dancing In A Field

When a young lady dancing in a field

Said, “all men to my charms must yield”,

I said, “that’s all very well

But, dear madam, can you tell

Me how to reach that town called Sheffield?”.

When Older Men

When older men

Dream of sinning

With young women,

Many a lass

Does contemptuously laugh.

But, if a man has money,

That self-same lass

May call him “my sweet honey”,

And smile while

The money lasts!

My Stay in a Luxurious Hotel

When I entered a luxurious hotel room

And savoured the sweet scent of perfume,

I said, “my dear

What brings you here?”.

She said, “this is my hotel room!”.

Lost, Amidst Numberless, Fallen Leaves

Lost,

Amidst numberless, fallen leaves

The poet sees

The cost

Of it all.

Nymphs play in Autumn’s sun.

Winter must come.

And the poet sees

Half-forgotten leaves,

Whirled by passion’s passing breeze.

A Young Lady Wearing A Very Tight Dress

A young lady wearing a very tight dress

Said, “I have so many sins to confess!”.

Then, with a great sneeze

She spoke of the bees.

And burst out of that very tight dress!

Shampoo

I remember you.

Though a brief time

We spent

I recollect your shampoo.

It’s subtle scent

Fades. But a rhyme

May capture the rapture

Of girlie shampoo.

Though never you.