On Listening to 'The Lark Ascending'...

I like the last 2 lines- really hitting.

;)Pia

Thanks, Pia. Pleased you thought so;-)

Tina

I adore RVW - Norfolk rhapsody is my new fave - I think the third movement of symphony no 5 is possibly the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard, I find it hard to listen to if that makes sense. Probably listened to Lark ascending more than any other classical piece and still love it.

I really like how you capture that sense of knowing you should be doing something else yet just letting it go and letting the mind wander, I think vaughn williams music does that - the end to this is just beautiful. :-)

I agree with you, hands down, fb about the Norfolk rhapsody, and also symphony no 5...and yes, what you say, does make sense. I feel that way about Mahler's fifth too, and possibly Barber's Adagio for Strings...and, and...I could go on and on, as could you, I have no doubt;-)

And as for Vaughan William's 'The Lark Ascending', I note it has again been voted No. 1 by the public on Classic FMs annual poll. I never tire of hearing it and marvel at the way the violin fades into nothingness at the end of this wonderful piece of music. Quite out of this world;-)

Thanks for your lovely comment, which has quite 'made' my early Saturday morning;-) Have a great weekend.

Tina

Blink and I miss one, you're so prolific, Tina! I really think this is one of my favourites of yours - a `letting it all out' kind of poem ending with those great last lines. Loved it.

Coral - you're marvellous for noticing this one. Yes, I have had a bit of a creative time lately, and now I'm just waited for the dreaded 'block' that comes to us all in fits and starts.

So pleased you liked this one, and the music itself is sublime, although I am sure you know that already;-)

Tina

This poem is your style, full of ZING! After reading your work, I feel energized. As you wrote this poem, I could envisage you dashing about words trailing behind in your mind. Then you LEAP upon a river bank and begin to scribble. Cheers, Richard LP

Richard - you must have a crystal ball;-) You summed me up to a 'T' except for 'river bank' substitute a small, garden pond that nature has taken over.

Many thanks for reading, and for your lovely words. Ever thought of becoming a writer;-)

Seriously though, your comment more than appreciated.

Tina

Many thanks for your words of wisdom, Richard, and I shall think on them;-) As for finding the 'time to revel'...this, here, now...my motto. Something my late daughter taught me a couple or three years ago.

Have a great weekend, and thanks again.

Tina

Richard LP said everything I wanted to say about this poem so stop reading right this instant and go read what he said several posts up from here and then (hopefully) you will grasp how wonderful this poem truly is.

I particularly liked the clever storyline. When you write a poem like this you do what Berryman does in his dreamsongs by reworking the language to suit your own creative necessity. You say things that we all grasp at some elemental level but don't quite know how to articulate. Your language is simple but the eloquence and artistry transcend the commonplace.

Gosh, Barry, I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, you sure do have a way with words;-)

Thank you for always taking the trouble to invariably go further with your comments. What I'm really trying to say is, I learn something new about the literary world with each one of them, and in my book, that's what it's all about;-)

Tina

Actually I didn't go far enough. Two more things: 1.) you can't teach someone how to write a poem like this in a masters of fine arts writing program at Yale or the University of Iowa (i.e. two of the most prestigious creative writing program in the US). You write a poem like this the way Neruda or ee cummings or Emily Dickinson or ... well you get the idea.

Secondly, the reader senses the confidence and sure-footedness (admittedly a wierd choice of words) on the part of the writer. The writer knows what he/she is doing, what needs to be said and the best way to accomplish that process. Again, they don't teach this sort of artistic alchemy at the universities. It comes from another primal source altogether.

I couldn't agree with you more, barry. It's a bit like art - painting if you will. There has to be a basic god-given talent there already; also I feel the same is true as far as musicianship is concerned.

Since the age of three or four, I have always been able to pick out a tune on the piano - hear something and I can play it. Also, improvisation comes naturally too. Subsequently, I had many piano lessons throughout my childhood and early teens, but I always hated playing to music...felt restricted, and am the same to this very day;-)

Once again, many thinks, barry and I hope you have a pleasant Sunday.

Tina

Tina,

One last observation and I promise not to post another thing! Robert Creeley, the American imagist poet (i.e. his most famous poem was the Ball-Turret Gunner), who taught on the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said that there were essentially two types of poems: the type you write and all the rest that he characterized as 'Kleenex Poetry'.

So what is Kleenex poetry? When you have a bad head cold or sinus infection, you grab a piece of Kleenex, blow your nose and promptly toss the wad of mucous-soaked Kleenex in the trash. Unfortunately, ninety per cent of the poetry written falls into this category; it is both regrettable and forgettable. You read the offering once and then promptly forget about it.

When you write a poem like On Listening to 'The Lark Ascending'..., it's important to get feedback from other serious writers. On occaision, I've written something that I thought 'might' be exceptional but desperately needed confirmation to that effect. Otherwise we end up second-guessing ourselves and wondering if the writing truly measured up. When this many abctales followers tell you it's a gem, all the doubts fall away in a heartbeat. What you have is the diametric opposite of Kreeley's Kleenex poetry.

Tina, what can I say, that hasn't already been said,
you have always been an inspiration to me, since I
got to read your work.

I think you truely have a following of great fans,
not only in this piece, but in all of your work.

keep writing Tina, you make a lot of people very
happy.

Jenny.

Barry - what else can I say, except 'thank you';-) And, have a rewarding week, whatever life throws at you, and wherever it may take you.

Tina

Jenny - thank you and you keep writing too. It is obvious from your following, you have something very special, and make sure you keep writing too;-)

Tina

Okay, so I lied... just one more point and I'm totally done. The American poet, Theodoe Rothke, lived on a farm and his parents had greenhouses. Several of his most magnificent poems, such as 'On Moss Gathering' deal with nature, plants and small animals. One poem that he wrote about a baby field mouse that the young poet finds abandoned in a field starts out normally enough and then goes off on a stunning rant encompassing issues both mundane and of cosmic proportions.

This poem of your reminds me of the Rothke poem, even though the subject matter is quite different. It's more a matter of tone and atmosphere, reading like a stream-of-consciousness piece where the reader must 'understand' whats going on at multiple levels.

Okay. That's it. I'm done. No more.

Well, barry...nothing else for it but to look up that poem to which refer 'On Moss Gathering'...but I shall have to do that tomorrow, as I am off to my daughter's for a special Father's Day dinner...other half in tow, hopefully;-) If he can bear to drag himself away from his beloved greenhouse, etc., that is.

Have a peaceful evening yourself.

Tina

... The last stanza is just so perfect and whole thing is what I call true poetry... I can't quite tell you how much I love this, so I'm just going to stick to the good, old, traditional 'well done' ;-)

Nathan x

And a good, old, tradtional 'thank you' to you, Nathan;-)

Much appreciate your words. Have a good week.

Tina xx