Improving the group

[Margo]

Emma, would it be confined to irish poetry?

[Margo]

I wouldn't have a huge interest so. I enjoy a bit of poetry but mostly from mixed cultures. Sorry. If you hit on something I'm not familiar with I might join in.

[Colleen]

I'm not a big fan of poetry either and not really likely to join in a discussion of it . Who are some Irish poets that we might be reading?

[Margo]

I like poetry in small doses and I would join in on an ad hoc basis but I've had a bit of an overload of irish poets throughout my life. I read a fair few haiku poems these days - sparse on words but can be very thought provoking.

[Margo]

I think asking why someone doesn't like poetry is a bit like asking why they like a certain genre of books. Hard to explain and very difficult to change a persons mindset and preconceptions ;-)

[Colleen]

I don't really don't know why I don't care for poetry other than I had to memorize some. I don't even like novels written in verse . I don't think I've read any Irish poets unless they would have been included in a English lit class . I'm willing to read some so don't not do it because of me . :)

[Paul]

Its just not something that overly interests me to be honest. I did my Poetry in school and a little in University, didn't hate it but didn't love it either.
I just don't feel I'd have the drive to take part in the discussions, so just being honest about that from the start.

[SherryRose]

There was a group in goodreads where the members wrote poetry. I tried a few. I found out that I don't have a clue about anything poetic! I like poetry but I don't make it a point to read it. I don't really care about it. It has it's place though. I dont remember the name of the group.

[Bookworm with Kids]

I like the ideas about changing the quarterlies, I would try to participate in a poetry discussion as well. It might be worth giving it a try to see how it goes. Eavan Boland is another Irish poet and I will ask my eldest daughter who else is on her school curriculum, I know she is studying a few Irish poets. There may be a few on Goodreads as well!?!

[Bookworm with Kids]

Emma, I have the Exploring English 3 - poetry for Inter Cert and Soundings for Leaving Cert so plenty of inspiration!

[Colleen]

Lol I don't have any of those :)

[Paul]

This may be of interest , they rereleases it a couple of years ago http://www.bookdepository.com/Soundin...

[Colleen]

Lol I'm not paying 26 dollars for poems :)

[Paul]

Thats some exchange rate, Its 10 euro on our side. Crazy

[Colleen]

Wow that is a difference!

[Susan]

I am so glad we are trying to do something different that may open new appreciation in our lives. I haven't read much poetry and welcome the opportunity to try something different. There are lots of opportunities to read different types of books and I am glad we are finally going to widen our horizons. I think it's a lovely idea, Emma. And really, how big a commitment is it to try and read one poem?

[Maria Hill]

I actually seem to be one of the few that read poetry for pleasure, mostly collections by women. This may be because two out of three of my creative writing teachers are published poets (both Irish BTW). Though both classes concentrated on short stories, and novels of chapters etc. I think the teachers' own writing must have influenced us somewhat.

All of this happened in my early 40's - before that I hated Poetry. So I wouldn't dismiss it so quickly.


I will say though that I find contemporary poetry (in general) far far better than the older stuff they made us learn in school.

[Margo]

Ya - I still have flashbacks to Gerald Manly Hopkins lol

[Thomas, Moderator]

I haven't read poetry since college.

[Bookworm with Kids]

I have to make a confession - I love Gerard Manley Hopkins! I shall go and face the corner and contemplate my sin now!

[SherryRose]

Bookworm with Kids wrote: "I have to make a confession - I love Gerard Manley Hopkins! I shall go and face the corner and contemplate my sin now!"

You've piqued my interest! Now I have to look him up! :-D

[Susan]

I had never heard of him either. I just looked him up and the few samples I read were lovely. I am getting excited about learning new things.

[Maria Hill]

I think Gerard Manley Hopkins was one of the exceptions for me. I was one of the few in my class that liked his wild rush of words - but could never answer an essay question on him.

[Seraphina]

how would nominations work, you nominate a poet/poem? or would mods just pick a poem per quarter? I would read the chosen poem but wouldn't know enough to be able to nominate any, would others be the same?

[Seraphina]

speaking of poetry, Obama and his buddy both quotes Irish poets in their speeches which was nice. maybe if we do some heaney it might entice Barbara back??

[Paul]

I remember the pain of reading Heaney . Not an experience I plan to repeat.

[Seraphina]

I never had him in school, Yeats all the way and kavanagh. might be interesting to read contemporary Irish poetry. would be new to everyone and we can't hold our School-made hatred against it

[Susan]

Emma, I have read some Paula Meehan that Barbara suggested to me and really like her. I would love to read Seamus Heaney too. Seraphina, you know Barbara spent a week last year in Belfast at a Heaney Summer Camp for Poetry, which is probably not the real name but you get the gist of it. I think it's an excellent idea.

Emma, I like the idea of the moderators nominating at first and letting us vote. I am so green at this that I appreciate the guidance. All I really know of Irish poetry I have learned from Barbara.

[Margo]

Bookworm with Kids wrote: "I have to make a confession - I love Gerard Manley Hopkins! I shall go and face the corner and contemplate my sin now!"

One of my best friends is also keen on him Bookworm - I don't hold it against either of you ;p

[Margo]

Maria wrote: "I think Gerard Manley Hopkins was one of the exceptions for me. I was one of the few in my class that liked his wild rush of words - but could never answer an essay question on him."

I suppose it says something that I can still quote him
"The world is charged with the grandeur of god;
It will flame out like shining from shook foil" etc. Proof that rote learning really does work ;-)

[J.P.]

Emma wrote: "The obvious ones would be Years, Heaney and Kavanagh. Others might include John Montague, Paula Meehan, or Derek Mahon. That's just off the top of my head.

If there isn't much interest then we wo..."

Yeats, Heaney and Kavanagh.....three of my all time favourites!

[Maria Hill]

Margo wrote: I suppose it says something that I can still quote him
"The world is charged with the grandeur of god;
It will flame out like shining from shook foil" etc. Proof that rote learning really does work ;-)

Wow, what a beautiful image, it brings to mind one of the big pictures in the National Gallery. Thanks for the memory.

Luckily enough for some he's British, not Irish as far as I remember and probably doesn't count. :)

[Maria Hill]

By the way as a result of this discussion I bought three poetry books in chapters today. They don't count to this as I don't think they are Irish.

I got Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife - which are poem by the wives of famous people, Mrs Midas to Queen Kong, to Elvis' evil twin sister etc.

Sidereal by Rachael Boast - which are poems about the importance of looking towards the heavens/sky.

A Taste for Hemlock by Michele Vassal . Who is French but lived in Ireland for 30 years. Now that I skim through it most of the poems seem to be about contemporary Ireland - so it may be an idea.

[Bookworm with Kids]

Maria, Hopkins was British but lived and worked in Dublin for a while ( in UCD). He also died in Dublin (at the age of 44). Perhaps some of his later poetry which was written during his time in Ireland would be eligible?

[Maria Hill]

You're right indeed, he may be eligible Bookworm. What is classified as Irish Emma?

[Trelawn]

Don't forget Oscar Wilde's Ballad of Reading Gaol. Best poem by an Irish poet ever.

[Trelawn]

It's exquisite. So heartbreaking. I don't read much poetry at all but that is my favourite. Just as a suggestion, and not to over complicate things but what if we alternated between poetry and plays? I know a lot of people feel reading a play takes away from it but we have some fabulous playwrights: O'Casey, Wilde, Beckett to name a few.

[Margo]

Maria wrote: "Margo wrote: I suppose it says something that I can still quote him
"The world is charged with the grandeur of god;
It will flame out like shining from shook foil" etc. Proof that rote learning re..."

He's British all right but he lived here and is buried in Glasnevin. Actually I think I may appreciate more at 50 than I did in my teens - school is wasted on the young lol

[Margo]

Trelawn wrote: "Don't forget Oscar Wilde's Ballad of Reading Gaol. Best poem by an Irish poet ever."

That's nearly a novella!

[Trelawn]

It's a very quick read Margo. The language flows so well.

[Margo]

Trelawn wrote: "It's a very quick read Margo. The language flows so well."

Read it a few times Trelawn. It's one of my my favourites from way back.

Youtube is a great idea Emma :-)

[Trelawn]

Good idea, I've never heard it recited.

[Tony]

Margo wrote: "Trelawn wrote: "Don't forget Oscar Wilde's Ballad of Reading Gaol. Best poem by an Irish poet ever."

That's nearly a novella!"

I love the stolen child and when you are old by W.B. Yeats a sad little poem and a work of pure fantasy

[Margo]

Tony wrote: "Margo wrote: "Trelawn wrote: "Don't forget Oscar Wilde's Ballad of Reading Gaol. Best poem by an Irish poet ever."

That's nearly a novella!"

I love the stolen child and when you are old by W.B. Y..."

Some of Yeats work was truly outstanding. The Cloths of Heaven is my favorite. Probably cos I didn't do it in school ;-)

I might warm to this idea yet Emma :-)

[Maria Hill]

Margo wrote: "Tony wrote: "Margo wrote: "Trelawn wrote: "Don't forget Oscar Wilde's Ballad of Reading Gaol. Best poem by an Irish poet ever."

That's nearly a novella!"

I love the stolen child and when you are ..."

The cloths of Heaven is also a favourite of mine. I have the last two lines as my quote on my Facebook page.

[Colleen]

I think in the beginning the mods should nominate. I would like it be both poetry and play every other quarter .

[Susan]

I am hoping the moderators nominate in the beginning. I, for one, could use the guidance.

[Bookworm with Kids]

I agree with Colleen, I would be interested in alternating poetry and plays. I would also think that the moderators could nominate for at least the first couple of times to get us going.

[Lorraine]

It has been a long time since I read any poetry so maybe alternate with plays. I read Pygmalion recently and enjoyed it. The moderators can nominate because I have no great knowledge on poetry except Yeats and Patrick Kavanagh.

[Margo]

Emma I have no real interest in nominating poems but a few of our members seem to be quite knowledgeable so maybe we have a system whereby if a member wanted to put a forward a poem/poet they could do so in a similar manner to the way we deal with the themes?
I have no interest in plays as they are rarely available in audio and they're difficult to read.