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| Published Poetry Discussion of classic and contemporary verse or lyrics. |
10-24-2007, 06:15 PM
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#1
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Wordsmith
Join Date: May 2007
Location: On course
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,033
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Regime Change - Andrew Motion
This poem was written by Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate to HRH Queen Elizabeth II, in protest at the invasion of Iraq.
Advancing down the road from Nineveh
Death paused a while and said 'Now listen here.
You see the names of places roundabout?
They're mine now, and I've turned them inside out.
Take Eden, further south: At dawn today
I ordered up my troops to tear away
Its walls and gates so everyone can see
That gorgeous fruit which dangles from its tree.
You want it, don't you? Go and eat it then,
And lick your lips, and pick the same again.
Take Tigris and Euphrates; once they ran
Through childhood-coloured slats of sand and sun.
Not any more they don't; I've filled them up
With countless different kinds of human crap.
Take Babylon, the palace sprouting flowers
Which sweetened empires in their peaceful hours -
I've found a different way to scent the air:
Already it's a by-word for despair.
Which leaves Baghdad - the star-tipped minarets,
The marble courts and halls, the mirage-heat.
These places, and the ancient things you know,
You won't know soon. I'm working on it now.'
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10-24-2007, 07:05 PM
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#2
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Writing Machine
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,994
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This was just good. Just also meaning fantastic, in my world.
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10-24-2007, 07:39 PM
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#3
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: AmbientArtists
Gender: Private
Posts: 3,878
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I'll probably yelled at for saying this, and perhaps I am wrong, but did the rythm here seem a little off? Or am I just reading it wrong?
I liked the images, particularly the part about flowers...
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10-25-2007, 07:47 AM
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#4
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: England, the beautiful southwest.
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,301
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I thought it was average. We all know that Duffy should be the laureate anyway.
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10-25-2007, 09:01 AM
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#5
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oregon
Gender: Male
Posts: 417
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I'm actually not very impressed by this either... but then again I don't really know all the rules (something that's been talked about a lot lately, it seems), and sometimes think "I just don't understand poetry..." when I feel "This work is mediocre at best."
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10-25-2007, 09:36 AM
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#6
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: England, the beautiful southwest.
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthatter
I'm actually not very impressed by this either... but then again I don't really know all the rules (something that's been talked about a lot lately, it seems), and sometimes think "I just don't understand poetry..." when I feel "This work is mediocre at best."
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Totally agree. One of the reasons why I prefer novel writing to poetry.
But I still love poetry when it comes from people like Duffy. She blows all the old rules and rubbish out of the window and writes some amazing stuff.
Last edited by Mermaid on the breakwater : 10-25-2007 at 09:39 AM.
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10-25-2007, 10:41 AM
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#7
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Wordsmith
Join Date: May 2007
Location: On course
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid on the breakwater
Totally agree. One of the reasons why I prefer novel writing to poetry.
But I still love poetry when it comes from people like Duffy. She blows all the old rules and rubbish out of the window and writes some amazing stuff.
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The point in posting this was to show that all poets do not always discard all the old rules and there's really no reason why they should apart from the prejudice of some modern writers, whose bias is equal to those who say that rock music negates classical.
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10-25-2007, 10:45 AM
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#8
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: England, the beautiful southwest.
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron
The point in posting this was to show that all poets do not always discard all the old rules and there's really no reason why they should apart from the prejudice of some modern writers, whose bias is equal to those who say that rock music negates classical.
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Both have their value. But this poem isn't anything special.
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10-26-2007, 03:22 AM
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#9
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Out in the bush, Queensland, Australia, far from the madding crowd
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Posts: 4,536
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It’s no wonder the British Commonwealth went down the gurgler, with wankers like this pissing in the Queen’s ear. I imagine his nickname may be “Bowel.” Bowel Motion – get it? It’d certainly suit his style.
And Baron, what’re these “old rules” of which you speak? Would one of them be “Thou shalt write codswallop?”
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BOURBON
unfortunately, Oxikins, a grown up sense of humour is wasted in this kindergarten...
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Last edited by The Backward OX : 10-26-2007 at 03:29 AM.
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10-26-2007, 10:42 AM
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#10
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Wordsmith
Join Date: May 2007
Location: On course
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Backward OX
It’s no wonder the British Commonwealth went down the gurgler, with wankers like this pissing in the Queen’s ear. I imagine his nickname may be “Bowel.” Bowel Motion – get it? It’d certainly suit his style.
And Baron, what’re these “old rules” of which you speak? Would one of them be “Thou shalt write codswallop?”
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That seems to be one that you willingly obey. 
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