K. Morris's Blog, page 585
May 26, 2017
Close Reading: How to Read a Poem
Some tips for the close reading of poetry
‘Close reading’ is not as straightforward as it may appear. Many readers of poetry, for instance, may have encountered ‘close readings’ of poems which are anything but. They’re not so much ‘close’ as ‘at arm’s length’. How do you close-read a poem? F. R. Leavis was one of the most influential literary critics writing in English in the twentieth century. Yet he often claimed he was performing a ‘close reading’ of a poem which wa...
Tell the truth and shame the devil
“Tell the truth and shame the devil” the people said.
So he told it straight
And hate
Descended upon his head.
So he told a lie
And said “the sky
Is always blue”.
The people clapped, although they in their hearts knew
That it really wasn’t true.
May 25, 2017
There Was A Young Chap Called Dan
There was a young chap called Dan
Who met a girl with a fake tan.
To his surprise
She batted her eyes,
And introduced herself as Ann!
A Short Analysis of the ‘Jack and Jill’ Nursery Rhyme
The origins of a classic children’s rhyme
‘Jack and Jill went up the hill’: we all know these words that call back our early childhoods so vividly, yet where did they come from and what does this rhyme mean? It can be dangerous to try to probe or analyse the meaning of nursery rhymes too deeply – much like analysing the nonsense verse of Edward Lear or Lewis Carroll, we are likely to come upon a hermeneutic dead-end. But ‘Jack and Jill’ is so well-known that a closer l...
There Was A Young Poet Called More
There was a young poet called More
Who wrote using metaphor.
His wife Jane
Did complain
That his poems made her snore!
May 24, 2017
Who is the I in I?
On Tuesday evening (23 May), I had dinner with 2 old friends. During the course of our conversation my friend, Jeff asked “Who is the I in I”? My response was that we are composed of a mix of genetic data inherited from our parents, environmental influences and the culture we absorb from a young age. All of these factors, I said, help to determine who the I in I is.
The snippet of conversation related above, reminded me of my poem “Genes” which is reproduced below:
“Are we just our genes
Me...
TIME – A Poetic Guest Post by Kevin Morris…
Many thanks to Chris for publishing my guest post. Kevin
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog
As far back as I can remember, clocks and the passing of time have held a fascination for me. The steady tick tock of a pendulum clock both soothes and hypnotises. As in a dream, I imagine Old Father Time, with his sickle chopping up seconds which, once gone will never return. Ultimately time catches up with us all.
“The sickle chops
And the heart will, one day stop”.
O...
Poetry Reading – “Let Your Soul Fly Free To Heaven”
November 7, 2016, in a phase of deepest sadness and depression, I wrote and published a poem, “Let Your Soul Fly Free To Heaven”.
Until this day I’m very much convinced that this is probably the rhythmically best poem I ever wrote, and even though, its theme is heartbreak and sadness, I’m still proud of it. That’s why I submitted this poem to the Poetry Festival Page and had it read by a professional actor.
Today I was informed that the poetry reading had been publish...
Recollection
You left your heels behind.
It is no particular bind
For you
To lose them, its true,
But what am I to do
With a lady’s shoe?
I remember your voice
(Redolent of private school).
I played the fool
(It was my choice).
You left your shoes under the bed.
Few words where said.
There was no love to lose
As a thing never started
Leaves no one broken hearted.
Enough said.
Stillettoed Feet
Many a man’s goal
Is derailed by the beat
Of stillettoed feet
That tear a hole
In his suffering soul.
