William Blake, 28 November 1757 – August 12, 1827
Warning: do not start yet another tedious game of word tennis with my title. Try to be a little original. And no obscure reviews in rhyme, please, either.
They said it was mad to converse with speechless creatures;
to discuss the condition of Albion and burning Tygers.
Singing innocent songs led to excesses
beyond their experience, and when despite your hostility
to organised religion you entertained prophets to tea
they were naturally bemused.
And as for printing your own poetry,
with paintings as well! who would have thought
multimedia had been conceived so early?
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Written by punchy (500 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
| An interesting piece, I would probably find it easier to review if I new more about the subject. |
Written by margarita (29 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
hey there,
I really like this poem...I'm a fan of the man himself and didn't realize it was his birthday today!
The first line grabs you straight away and I just love the line "entertained prophet's to tea" it conjures up some great images!
Cheers |
Really very good.
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
How beautifully engaging, Sue.
OK. I admit I did warn you off Poetry. But this is the perfect reposte. It is:
Comprehensible
Communicates [ with the exception of poor punchy ]
Catches the mood of the two hundreth anniversary of William Blake.
Sadly I think Sue, you will be disqualified from the Poets Award for Flatulence on the grounds that you are not :
Incomprehensible.
Incommunicate.
Incoherent.
[In the loo pissing up the wall ]
Alas only thus will you be a true Poet. Hey! Take it on the chin, Doll!
No matter. I know what you meant. And so, more to the point, do thousands of others.
Seriously. What a substantial tribute to your [ our ] real ' National Poet'. So very well done. I have admired Blake since before I learnt to spell his name. He is revered, nay lionised, in Ireland as the first great humanist thinker. How fitting you should have thought to have celebrated his birth.....And with such a good piece. I had given up on Poetry [ Sorry Josie ] but you have restored my faith in the willingness to speak to all; in ' compressed communication '. I did wonder if 'multimedia' was a good idea; but I take the point. A very well accomplished piece of writing. Worthy of publication. And worthy of Patterjack at his erudite best.
My fondest compliments to you.
PS. On a very minor level I can't help feeling that this should get Shitoaster's toupee twirling. Be it on your head!!
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hee hee
Written by fellpony (1603 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
great jumping fleas! I might not have remembered dear William's birthday were it not for the fact that I am taking part in some readings tomorrow night at The Source in Carlisle to commemorate the dear loony's birth. I have promised not to sing Jerusalem but plan to read his notes about Jesus' nose, his conversations with Ezekiel and Isaiah, and of course the Tyger amongst other Songs of Experience.
I had ambitions to be Blake myself at various times! I won prizes at college for producing poetry sequences with paintings and backing music ... that however faded a little when I married a bloke who happened to drive a Leyland Albion heavy goods wagon ... |
Poor Punchy?
Written by punchy (500 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
Fellpony, just to be clear, I didn''t have trouble understanding your poem or appreciating its context, only I find it hard to review on a subject i.e. William Blake when I know little about him. 
That is why I enjoy your poems they can make a subject I have no interest in appear interesting x |
hi punchy
Written by fellpony (1603 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
well, at least you are honest about not knowing William B. But you probably know:
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
in the forests of the night,
what immortal hand or eye
could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Such an apparently simple poem yet every time I read it my hair stands on end. I find more ideas in it every time too. |
Written by wt (137 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
| hope you find what you are looking for |
To Punchy and Everyone Else
Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
| First, a big thank you to Sue for a wonderful poetic tribute to this great man in the world of art and poetry. Secondly, to those who know little or nothing of him, please see my tribute in the Non Fiction side, for I have had to find out much myself about him this evening. Thanks again Sue. A lovely poem. |
I have heeded...
Written by patterjack (1179 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
..your warning about tennis matches. I feel it got an oblique
response elsewhere
I have to admit that I myself began a quick verse to put in as a part of a review, but deferred.
My own tribute to WB is already onsite Dear Mr Blake -- Poetry 20th Aug 2006
If I feel the mischief grow in me I will send you any resultant verse in a pm
Enjoyed this
patterjack |
Written by Phil (6683 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
Enjoyed this Sue. I actually thought the last line added rather than detracted. Humour yes, but also refers to his relevance?
Phil |
HI Sue
Written by jean.day (2266 comments posted) 27th November 2007 |
| I too thought this a very good poem - and a fine tribute to the great man. You managed to bring so much of his work into so few lines. |
the multimedia line
Written by fellpony (1603 comments posted) 28th November 2007 |
has been gently amended since GC reviewed, Phil. (Echoes now of the Scots Play, perhaps.)
May I commend Brian's "Dear Mr Blake" to everyone's attention today, the real 250th Anniversary? I am now going off to read what Josie has researched on him.
Thanks all.
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