There was a young lady named Spink
Who composed a letter using invisible ink.
Her correspondent (who was named Black)
Wrote “I regret that I lack
The means to know what you think!”.
There Was A Young Lady Named Spink
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Monthly Archives: January 2018
A Bird Sang
A bird sang
In the churchyard as I
Passed by.
A thought unbidden sprang
Into my heart.
For all my art
I know that I shall die.
2 Limericks
There was a young man named Dave
Who lived in a draughty old cave.
When his girlfriend Kim
Moved in with him
Her mother did rant and rave!
—
There was a young man named Hyde
Who said “history is on Marx’s side”.
The wheel of history moved on
And Karl Marx is long gone.
As for Hyde, he long ago died.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Blogging From The Perspective Of A Poet?
Licence to use image obtained – Copyright: 3dlabs2015 / 123RF Stock Photo
What are the pros and cons of blogging from the perspective of a poet? To answer this question one needs to consider matters which touch wholly on poetry, and issues pertaining to blogging more generally. The below should be read baring in mind the caveat that (to state the blatantly obvious) poets are individuals and what works for one will not (necessarily) work for another. With that caveat on the table, here are my pros and cons.
Pros
1. Publishing your poetry on a blog brings it to the attention of a wide audience. The poet gains followers who, in turn spread the word regarding the poet’s work, thereby increasing the blog’s following and enhancing the exposure of the poet’s writing.
2. Having a blog allows the poet to publicise upcoming poetry readings and, of course provide links to their published works (if such exist) on platforms such as Amazon.
3. One of the questions asked when I signed up for an Audio Book Creation Exchange (ACX) account was along the lines of “do you have a blog/website and, if so how many followers do you have?” From the perspective of ACX, they want to know that books published on their platform will sell and a person with an online following has an obvious advantage when it comes to selling books, as (to state the obvious) the more people who are aware of your writing (poetry or otherwise) the greater the number of titles you are (potentially at least) likely to sell.
4. Having a blog enables poets to connect with fellow poets thereby building up a community of like minded individuals.
Cons:
1. Responding to comments can be time consuming (time the poet could be spending writing). One can, of course disable comments on a WordPress blog (WordPress being my platform of choice). However (in my view) a blog without the ability to comment is a dead thing. Comments equal vibrancy and engagement which is why I positively welcome them.
2. Blog followers do not (necessarily) equate to book sales. People follow blogs for many and diverse reasons and some (having subscribed) will forget about your blog and never comment and/or like posts.
3. If all (or significant numbers of your poems) appear online, why should readers buy your books? (they have, after all already read your poems online).
4. Poems published online may (as with any other form of writing) be stolen. One can (and should) include a Copyright Notice on your site. This will, however not prevent the possibility of theft.
Conclusion
If I were not of the view that blogging is not of advantage to me as a poet, I would cease to blog. The fact that I continue to publish and engage online demonstrates that I believe the pros of blogging (from the poets perspective) outweigh the cons.
There Was A Young Lady Named Liz
There was a young lady named Liz
Who said “it certainly is
A most heinous crime
When poetry fails to rhyme.
It gets me in a tiz!”.
Feet
Examining my feet
I find that they are smooth
More or less
Though I must confess
That the odd groove
Leads I know not whither.
Some find eroticism in naked feet,
Their passion grows
At the sight of dainty toes.
Others reel
On seeing a pointy heel.
They themselves lose
In girl and shoes …
What strange objects are feet
That people greet
The sight of these workaday things
With lust or disgust.
I am even told
That some feel neither, and are left cold
By these plates of meat.
Book Review: My Old Clock I Wind and Other Poems by K. Morris
Thank you to Audrey Driscoll for taking the time to read and review “My Old Clock I Wind And Other Poems”.
The first poem in this collection of 74 contains the theme that pervades the entire work – the relentless passage of time.
Morris’s verses are products of reflection and mature thought, expressing both resignation and a zest for life. This poet is not fighting advancing age and eventual death, but lives with an intense awareness of the temporary nature of human lives and preoccupations. “Passing By,” for example, sums this up perfectly in only three lines. The fleetingness of beauty and attraction are pictured in “Chiffon” and “Dark and Light.” As sadness frequently follows delight /Mourn not, for there can be no dark without the light.
The poet’s mixed feelings about his relationships with others are exemplified by “Shall I Sit Out This Dance?” whose last five lines are especially poignant. “What Is A Double Bed?” further explores love, joy, and pain.
Humour is not absent from the collection…
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There Was A Young Poet Named Dan
There was a young poet named Dan
Who’s lines point blank refused to scan.
He went out on a dinner date
With my good friend Kate
And romanced her in his van!
—
There was a young poet named Dan
Who’s lines point blank refused to scan.
He went out on a dinner date
With my good friend Kate
And enacted a cunning plan!
—
There was a young poet named Dan
Who’s lines refused point blank to scan.
He went out on a dinner date
With my good friend Kate
And talked about his first love Anne!
—
There was a young poet named Dan
Who’s lines point blank refused to scan.
He romanced a girl
By the name of pearl
But his lines refused to scan!
—
There was a young poet named Dan
Who owned a battered old van.
He went out on a date
As I did wait
In the back of his battered old van!
There Was A Young Lady Called Molly
There was a young lady called Molly
Who had a sister by the name of Holly.
One bleak day
I regret to say
They stole my shopping trolley!
—
There was a young lady called Molly
Who had a sister by the name of Holly.
One fine day
(I blush to say)
I proposed to Molly and her sister, Holly!
What Is Guilt?
What is guilt?
‘Tis Macbeth’s hands incarnadine
Turning the green seas red.
‘Tis wine
By lovers spilt
At night’s dead
Hour on quilt.
‘Tis a man’s flushed face
And a girl’s disgrace.
‘Tis a whispering voice
Which says “you had a choice
And chose
To taint the barely opened rose”.
‘Tis a cigarette
Smoked by a kind of lover
To cover
The silence of regret.
K Morris - Poet 