Is there a poem you’re recently read that you’ve enjoyed? Share it here. Here’s one I read today. by Anon For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
I've heard that poem attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who published it in Poor Richard's Almanack, but the gist of it goes back to the 13th century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Want_of_a_Nail Here's my contribution, from Gerard Manley Hopkins: Haven/Heaven: a Nun Takes the Vail I have desired to go Where springs not fail, To fields where flies no sharp and sided hail And a few lilies blow. And I have asked to be Where no storms come, Where the green swell is in the havens dumb, And out of the swing of the sea.
My favorite poems are “We Are Seven” by William Wordsworth and “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52298/we-are-seven https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44885/annabel-lee They’re fairly long, so I didn’t paste them here.
There's a lovely musical arrangement of this poem, by Don Dilworth. Joan Baez sings it here: What I like about it is that it captures a sort of medieval/troubadour atmosphere that matches the fairy-tale tone of the poem. It's in my playlist of songs on my nylon-strung guitar.
I quite honestly have plenty, but I will share a lesser known one. I found it in a school textbook and so far, have only seen one link that goes to it on the internet.
I've had a great affection for this poem ever since I read it in a book on poetry. It's a bit long, so I'll just post the URL here: https://allpoetry.com/poem/8530385-Love-Poem-by-John-Frederick-Nims
(I apologize for posting yet another one, I just adore poetry.) I just found this one a few days ago. I found his poem Yet Do I Marvel. obsessed over it for a few months, explored his other poems, and found this one! I declare, it might be my favorite poem now. Here it is: Simon the Cyrenian Speaks - Countee Cullen He never spoke a word to me, And yet He called my name; He never gave a sign to me, And yet I knew and came. At first I said, "I will not bear His cross upon my back; He only seeks to place it there Because my skin is black." But He was dying for a dream, And He was very meek. And in His eyes there shone a gleam Men journey far to seek. It was Himself my pity bought; I did for Christ alone What all of Rome could not have wrought With bruise of lash or stone.
Are we allowed, in this thread, to share poetry that we ourselves have written? Just wondering. (If not, that's fine).
No problem. Thank you, Homer. And since we're quoting poetry -- one of my favourites: Dulce et Decorum Est BY WILFRED OWEN Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs, And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of gas-shells dropping softly behind. Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.— Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.* ____________________________________ Latin phrase is from the Roman poet Horace: “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”
This short poem is by far the best "burn" poem I have ever read: I Shall not Care BY SARA TEASDALE When I am dead and over me bright April Shakes out her rain-drenched hair, Tho' you should lean above me broken-hearted, I shall not care. I shall have peace, as leafy trees are peaceful When rain bends down the bough, And I shall be more silent and cold-hearted Than you are now.
For "burn" poetry, that reminds me of both "Since You Been Gone" and (more famously, maybe) "One More Minute". Both by "Weird" Al Yankovic.
