4 songs for a solo joyce

[patterjack]

4 songs for a solo joyce

i. Soprano: harry me

THUNDERBURST of blood
drumbeat of the season
flute-flung note to flood
the mind with fine unreason

The fury of the Spring
bruises to the bone
against its long green sting
none can stand alone

ii. Tenor: marry me

RAVISHMENT brought joy
mere love could not bestow
life became a toy
a bright diabolo

and easy joy sang long
throughout the sleazy Summer
while sentimental song
helped still the noisy drummer

iii. Contralto: bury me

DISSOLUTION has a roundness
hinting at perfection
at the core of Autumn’s soundness
begins disintegration

iv. Bass: bind me

PROVIDENTIALITY lulls the fever
to know if Winter is forever

[patterjack]

This is up for experimental purposes only, to see if I can utilise colour, and to try ( maybe today, maybe later) to indent etc.

It consists of the major pieces from one of the earliest of my postings on GW 1 which, for obvious reasons, probably mostly because of the Joycean references, received no reviews. It will not remain on here for long, but if anyone has a comment I would be more than pleased and happy to receive it .

[fellpony]

Well you managed the colours all right - no need for nascent to help you out this time!

Not being a Joyce fan like you, I'm probably missing the references here, but there are some lovely phrases (whether referential or not), eg, the "long green sting". And the couplet at the end of part iii is a concept that many a poet would have spent an entire poem exploring.

[ainsel]

I like these - hearing all kinds of settings in my head - very stark accompaniment, a little dissonant perhaps. As you know, I'm not familiar with Joyce either, but I find this an interesting read even without the background. I like the structure, with the seasonal theme through each voice part. Some really vivid imagery - life as a "bright diabolo" works really well for me, I'm trying to learn diabolo at the moment (not going well).

I hope you don't follow through your intention to take them away. I like them.

ainsel

[silvershoes]

Hi Brian

Oh dear - you seem to have drawn reviews from a merry group of Joyce-ignoramouses - if such a word exists or is spelt correctly. But despite this I really enjoyed this. Loved the contrast of seasons and emotions in each, and there is real drive and momentum in the ways each verse moves on from the next. It has a very condenses "full" feel to it, that I want to savour and turn around to get more meaning. Not sure about the colours - is that just testing out our new whizz bang features on GW2? Anyway laptop warning me its about to conk out unless I find the lead... hope to see more of your excellent stuff on the brighter better GW

Emma x

[silvershoes]

I was of course including myself in this merry band - not casting aspertions at my fellow reviewers! don't want to be the first to start a row on the site!

E

[patterjack]

Thank you Sue, ainsel , Silvershoes

A poem that requires the author's explanations is rarely a good one ( despite Mr Eliot ! )

The basis--briefly-- is Vico as adapted by Joyce -- the cycle of history and the cycle of life : Theocratic , Autocratic , Democratic , Chaotic ; birth marriage burial *ricorso *. Hence harry me, marry me, bury me, bind me.

I personally added the seasons and their colours, and the musical element as Joyce was very musical himself.

There are obscure references also to Dylan Thomas -- The force that through the green fuse drives the flower, and A refusal to mourn the death by fire of a child in London.

The *verses* that accompanied these choric stanzas were very pretentious indeed. But at that time of my life, oh so significant

[WendyPratt]

I'm only vaguely familiar with Joyce so have probably missed a shed load of meanings. I enjoyed this though, it was like a stark retelling of a Greek play. You're way beyond me with the colours and stuff, I haven't even managed to do my profile yet!

enjoyable stuff

Wendy

[BrianRobertNeal]

Hi,
I've read 5 poems on here and 3 adopt the 4-4-4-2 format. Very bleak ending i.e.wondering if winter is forever. What's happened to the cyclical element of life?

Brian

[Phil]

Not familiar enough with Joyce to comment properly on this one, Brian. However, I did enjoy it in my simple way - particularly the structure and build.

Phil