Friday Poetry: Elizabeth Bishop

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far and have good plans for the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is by the American poet and short story writer Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979).

Thunder

And suddenly the giants tired of play. -
With huge, rough hands they flung the gods' gold balls
And silver harps and mirrors at the walls
Of Heaven, and trod, ashamed, where lay
The loveliness of flowers. Frightened Day
On white feet ran from out the temple halls,
The blundering dark was filled with great war-calls,
And Beauty, shamed, slunk silently away.

Be quiet, little wind among the leaves
That turn pale faces to the coming storm.
Be quiet, little foxes in your lairs,
And birds and mice be still - a giant grieves
For his forgotten might. Hark now the warm
And heavy stumbling down the leaden stairs!

Elizabeth Bishop

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: John Updike

Happy Friday!

My chosen poem this week is by another new poet for me. John Updike (1932-2009) was an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art and literary critic.

August

The sprinkler twirls.
The summer wanes.
The pavement wears
Popsicle stains. 

The playground grass
Is worn to dust. 
The weary swings
Creak, creak with rust.

The trees are bored
With being green.
Some people leave 
The local scene

And go to seaside
Bungalows
And take off nearly
All their clothes. 

John Updike

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: William Blake

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has some exciting plans for the weekend. I have quite a busy weekend work wise but hopefully I will find a bit of time to get some reading in.

My chosen poem this week is by a favourite of mine, William Blake.

The Smile

There is a Smile of Love
And there is a Smile of Deceit
And there is a Smile of Smiles
In which these two Smiles meet

And there is a Frown of Hate
And there is a Frown of Disdain
And there is a Frown of Frowns
Which you strive to forget in vain

For it sticks in the Heart deep Core
And it sticks in the deep Back bone
And no Smile that ever was Smil'd
But only one Smile alone

That betwixt the Cradle & Grave
It only once Smil'd can be
But when it once is Smil'd
There's an end to all Misery

William Blake

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: Walter de la Mare

Happy Friday!

The poem I have chosen today is by a new poet for me. Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) was an English poet, short story writer and novelist. He is best known for his works for children.

Silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in silver feathered sleep
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.

Walter de la Mare

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: D. H. Lawrence

Happy Friday!

I still have covid but I am very slowly starting to get a bit of energy back. The reason I have chosen this poem for this week is because I am missing the sea. Whilst on holiday it was so nice to be right next to the sea everyday.

Seaweed

Seaweed sways and sways and swirls
as if swaying were its form of stillness;
and it flushes against fierce rock
it slips over it as shadows do, without hurting itself. 

D. H. Lawrence

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: Lord Byron

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far.

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, 
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent, 
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Lord Byron

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Friday Poetry: Lewis Carroll

Happy Friday!

My chosen poem this week is by Lewis Carroll and is an acrostic poem.

A Boat, Beneath a Sunny Sky

A boat, beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July - 

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear - 

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die:
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes. 

Children yet, the tale to hear, 
Eager eye and willing ear, 
Lovingly shall nestle near. 

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream -
Lingering in a golden gleam - 
Life, what is it but a dream?

Lewis Carroll

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Friday Poetry: Kenn Nesbitt

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far and have some exciting plans for the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is one that really made me giggle when I read it, so I thought I would share it. The poem is by the American children’s poet Kenn Nesbitt (1962).

Einstein's Brain

I heard that they've got Einstein's brain
just sitting in a jar.
I don't know where they keep it,
but I hope it isn't far.

I need to go and borrow it
to help me with this test.
I've answered twenty questions 
but on every one I guessed.

If someone asks you where I've gone,
then kindly please explain
I'll be right back; I've just gone out
to look for Einstein's brain.

Kenn Nesbitt

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: Derek Walcott

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a good week and is looking forward to the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is by the Saint Lucian poet and playwright Derek Walcott (1930-2017).

Midsummer, Tobago

Broad sun-stoned beaches.

White heat.
A green river.

A bridge,
scorched yellow palms

from the summer-sleeping house
drowsing through August.

Days I have held,
days I have lost,

days that outgrow, like daughters,
my harbouring arms.

Derek Walcott

Happy Reading

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Friday Poetry: Theodore Roethke

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has some good plans for the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is by the American poet Theodore Roethke (1908-1963).

Sloth

In moving slow he has no Peer.
You ask him something in his Ear,
He thinks about it for a Year;

And, then, before he says a Word 
There, upside down (unlike a Bird),
He will assume that you have Heard

A most Ex-as-per-at-ing Lug.
But should you call his manner Smug,
He'll sigh and give his Branch a Hug;

Then off again to Sleep he goes,
Still swaying gently by his Toes,
And you just know he knows he knows.

Theodore Roethke

Happy Reading