Impossible challenge. But some more modern ones? Prufrock or The Waste Land. Sylvia Plath's Mirror. So much Larkin. (As homage during lockdown I wrote a poem Fourteen Minutes, copying the complex form of Whitsun Weddings. Great fun trying to meet that challenge.) Lots of Heaney (better than Hughes in my view. And if you haven't read it before, try Alan Brownjohn's brilliant 'If time's to work', a neat piece of metaphysics.
As I say impossible challenge, but thanks for setting it.
Haha - yes it did. I was going to reply - honest. But got sent down a Brownjohn rabbit hole. Discovered the office party one and was blown away. Love him! But then the same site that I found that on has some Housman on too, and before I knew it, a couple of hours had elapsed.
Well, I could be like Elizabeth Schwarzkopf on Desert Island discs; all eight of her choices were of herself singing. So I could choose ten of my own...but I won't.
I offer you something perhaps far more obscure. From 'A Poem to Read Aloud Every Day of the Year' I offer the 12th April ten-line sonnet: 'Tis a strange mystery, the power of words', by Elisabeth Letitia Landon (1802-1838), a sonnet from her novel 'Ethel Churchill'.
Just had surgery. Even so, I feel the need to say that Kipling was a colonialist ass and the poem glorifies war. I am not saying he couldn't write, bit rather that his topics turn me off. OK. Going back to sleep. High as hell.
Best is obviously subjective - 'popular' and/or 'timeless' probably sums it up better in terms of this list. For my own personal preference I would put Charles Causley's 'Eden Rock', 'Timothy Winters' or 'Innocent's Song' right up there along with Wilfred Owen's 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' and 'Dulce Et Decorum Est'. Throw in some Auden, Larkin, Heaney, Blake and Dylan Thomas too, although probably not the most well-known ones.
Thanks for these suggestions Tim. I associate Causley with you as you introduced me to his work, through "Timothy Winters" whic is indeed a great piece of poetry. I can't believe that in thirty odd years of teaching, I have never heard it read at a training day. I suppose its the religious element. I have never really looked at Heaney properly, Or Auden beyond the obvious. Gaps to be plugged!
Interesting to read your comments, I enjoyed that Top Ten Classics session too, can't help thinking the list needs one from Heaney, Ted Hughes and good old Rog McGough, Mr Armitage may also sneak in there but there are some great eco poets around now, I'm thinking Jean Sprackland, Alice Oswald and Steve Ely for his scope ambition and sheer wordery. Robert Frost is the only one of the Classic Ten I would keep, agree with uou about Owen, must have Auden he's such a master of form. T
Ummm.... just tried to do the Annual Subscription & got the message "Your card does not support this type of purchase." Why do I find this so very humorous? Like maybe our new King has ruled we are no longer allowed to send money across the pond?
Not sure why that would happen at all - Thanks for trying though. I have an alternative subscription plan through ko-fi which you can find through clicking on Donate to sixty odd at the foot of the article.
You'll love this one. I tried to donate per the above. Declined again. Before I could get to my bank on the matter, I used my card to pick up the tab on a round at a favorite watering hole and card was declined!!! Ouch--embarrassing. Went to the bank that day. The Security Rep who was checking out transactions on my card said "Yes. We put a block on it. Looked like some suspicious activity. Ever hear of sixty odd?"
So, they unblocked the card right there & then. I got on w/all the immediate stuff of my life & then today thought I'd give it another try. Maybe buy a banana just to test the transaction. Apparently my bank doesn't support me importing bananas. Maybe it's a tariff thing. Sheeeit. Anyway, will give it another go once I bail out my card from lock down! (Big sigh behind this ironic smile.)
Well shucks. This time my card was declined. Could be on the part of my bank. I'll check in with them next week and we will try this again. I so enjoy your essays, Mike. Truly excellent. And enjoy you poetry selections, too.
You may be sure I will be e-mail blasting this out to all my poetry reading and writing cohorts. Stunning essay! Should be up there on a list of the top 10. I appreciate the visual, too. I am one of millions of shamed and embarrassed Americans who is deftly rehearsing a British accent.
Further, I love your attitude re LISTS and BESTS and such. I'm right there with you. I too often express my own attitude aloud among scholarly types, (post structuralists some, lit critics too) a few of whom have actually called rhyming poetry "stupid."
Will send you some favs and maybe a piece of my own. Thank you for this so very excellent essay.
Impossible challenge. But some more modern ones? Prufrock or The Waste Land. Sylvia Plath's Mirror. So much Larkin. (As homage during lockdown I wrote a poem Fourteen Minutes, copying the complex form of Whitsun Weddings. Great fun trying to meet that challenge.) Lots of Heaney (better than Hughes in my view. And if you haven't read it before, try Alan Brownjohn's brilliant 'If time's to work', a neat piece of metaphysics.
As I say impossible challenge, but thanks for setting it.
hughvenablespoetry.com
Thanks for introducing me to Brownjohn, I still haven't tracked down "If Time's to Work, but I shall, and the stuff that I have found is fascinating.
Mike - hi. I've tried to find it on line without success. I'll photograph it and send it to you, if I can work out how to do that on substack!
Cheers. I would appreciate that. Or you can email sixty_odd@aol.com
Great. I'll email in the morning - hugh.venables@outlook.com
Just checking the email got through.
Haha - yes it did. I was going to reply - honest. But got sent down a Brownjohn rabbit hole. Discovered the office party one and was blown away. Love him! But then the same site that I found that on has some Housman on too, and before I knew it, a couple of hours had elapsed.
Well, I could be like Elizabeth Schwarzkopf on Desert Island discs; all eight of her choices were of herself singing. So I could choose ten of my own...but I won't.
I offer you something perhaps far more obscure. From 'A Poem to Read Aloud Every Day of the Year' I offer the 12th April ten-line sonnet: 'Tis a strange mystery, the power of words', by Elisabeth Letitia Landon (1802-1838), a sonnet from her novel 'Ethel Churchill'.
I just had a pleasant read about Letitia - she comes well recommended. Interesting story too.
Just had surgery. Even so, I feel the need to say that Kipling was a colonialist ass and the poem glorifies war. I am not saying he couldn't write, bit rather that his topics turn me off. OK. Going back to sleep. High as hell.
Best is obviously subjective - 'popular' and/or 'timeless' probably sums it up better in terms of this list. For my own personal preference I would put Charles Causley's 'Eden Rock', 'Timothy Winters' or 'Innocent's Song' right up there along with Wilfred Owen's 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' and 'Dulce Et Decorum Est'. Throw in some Auden, Larkin, Heaney, Blake and Dylan Thomas too, although probably not the most well-known ones.
Thanks for these suggestions Tim. I associate Causley with you as you introduced me to his work, through "Timothy Winters" whic is indeed a great piece of poetry. I can't believe that in thirty odd years of teaching, I have never heard it read at a training day. I suppose its the religious element. I have never really looked at Heaney properly, Or Auden beyond the obvious. Gaps to be plugged!
Interesting to read your comments, I enjoyed that Top Ten Classics session too, can't help thinking the list needs one from Heaney, Ted Hughes and good old Rog McGough, Mr Armitage may also sneak in there but there are some great eco poets around now, I'm thinking Jean Sprackland, Alice Oswald and Steve Ely for his scope ambition and sheer wordery. Robert Frost is the only one of the Classic Ten I would keep, agree with uou about Owen, must have Auden he's such a master of form. T
Ummm.... just tried to do the Annual Subscription & got the message "Your card does not support this type of purchase." Why do I find this so very humorous? Like maybe our new King has ruled we are no longer allowed to send money across the pond?
Would you know of a work around?
Hahaha - That’s ace! I’m a suspicious website owner!
Not sure why that would happen at all - Thanks for trying though. I have an alternative subscription plan through ko-fi which you can find through clicking on Donate to sixty odd at the foot of the article.
You'll love this one. I tried to donate per the above. Declined again. Before I could get to my bank on the matter, I used my card to pick up the tab on a round at a favorite watering hole and card was declined!!! Ouch--embarrassing. Went to the bank that day. The Security Rep who was checking out transactions on my card said "Yes. We put a block on it. Looked like some suspicious activity. Ever hear of sixty odd?"
I cracked up. Said, "OMG, that's poets! Sixty Odd Poets! Yes!"
So, they unblocked the card right there & then. I got on w/all the immediate stuff of my life & then today thought I'd give it another try. Maybe buy a banana just to test the transaction. Apparently my bank doesn't support me importing bananas. Maybe it's a tariff thing. Sheeeit. Anyway, will give it another go once I bail out my card from lock down! (Big sigh behind this ironic smile.)
Well shucks. This time my card was declined. Could be on the part of my bank. I'll check in with them next week and we will try this again. I so enjoy your essays, Mike. Truly excellent. And enjoy you poetry selections, too.
You may be sure I will be e-mail blasting this out to all my poetry reading and writing cohorts. Stunning essay! Should be up there on a list of the top 10. I appreciate the visual, too. I am one of millions of shamed and embarrassed Americans who is deftly rehearsing a British accent.
Further, I love your attitude re LISTS and BESTS and such. I'm right there with you. I too often express my own attitude aloud among scholarly types, (post structuralists some, lit critics too) a few of whom have actually called rhyming poetry "stupid."
Will send you some favs and maybe a piece of my own. Thank you for this so very excellent essay.
Wow! Thanks for your enthusiastic response. Looking forward to seeing your choices of poetry and I definitely want to read something of yours.