There once was a poet named Black
Who read his poetry in the outback.
When they threw rotten fruit
He played his old flute
And he threw that fruit right back!
There Once Was a Poet Named Black
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Category Archives: poetry
Gale Who Yanked a Poor Lion’s Tail
There was a young lady named Gale
Who yanked at a poor lion’s tail.
That young woman was superficial,
But the beast being artificial
This tale doesn’t end badly for Gale!
Poet K Morris’s Podcast of Readings from Leaving and Other Poems
On 9 February, I posted regarding my forthcoming interview on Vancouver Co-op Radio’s the World Poetry Reading Series, https://kmorrispoet.com/2022/02/09/poet-kevin-morris-interviewed-by-ariadne-sawyer-of-vancouver-co-op-radios-the-world-poetry-reading-series/.
In the above post I said that my interview/poetry reading will be broadcast at 9 pm (UK time) on Thursday 10 February which is, of course this evening.
For anyone who is unable to listen at 9 pm I am pleased to let you know that my interview and reading from Leaving and Other Poems is now available on Mixcloud. To listen to me talk about my poetry and read some of my poems please visit this link https://www.mixcloud.com/VictorSchwartzman/world-poetry-cafe-for-feb-10/
My interview takes place approximately 15 minutes into the podcast and lasts for about 10 minutes. In addition I read a final poem at the end of the show.
Please note, you don’t need to have an account with Mixcloud to listen to the podcast. To listen simply click on the play button.
Poet Kevin Morris Interviewed by Ariadne Sawyer of Vancouver Co-op Radio’s the World Poetry Reading Series
On Monday 7 February, I was interviewed by Ariadne Sawyer of Vancouver Co-op Radio’s the World Poetry Reading Series. During my interview I talked about and read from my recently released collection Leaving and Other Poems, which is available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback.
The show is scheduled to be broadcast at 9 pm (UK time) on Thursday 10 February. My interview takes place some 10-15 minutes into the show. In addition I read my poem “If My Clock Antique” at the end of the broadcast.
You can find the World Poetry Reading Series here https://www.worldpoetry.ca/. For Leaving and Other Poems please visit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09R3HR9KG/ (for the UK), and here, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R3HR9KG/
(for the US and elsewhere).
Fay’s Poem
When a young lady named Miss Fay
Composed a poem that was very risqué,
Me and Miss Rose
Took off our clothes –
Now we’re in that poem by Fay!
Should Poets Explain their Poetry?
Last Friday (5 February) I gave an online reading, using Microsoft Teams to work colleagues.
During my performance I read from my recently released collection Leaving and Other Poems. Having read my poem Blackbird, I explained the context in which it had been composed.
Having finished my brief explanation, a colleague commented that knowing something about the context of the poem, it’s meaning Etc was helpful. I responded that whilst I appreciated her thoughts and, I am, on occasions happy to provide context, I was wary of taking away from my readers own perspectives on my poetry by putting my interpretation on my work.
Part of the beauty of poetry is that the reader can interpret a poem in diverse (and often very different ways). I am often surprised at how my readers interpret my work and sometimes find their interpretations rather bizarre. However, in many other instances I comprehend why they interpret a particular poem as they do and this has sometimes caused me to see new meanings in my own work.
I am planning a reading from Leaving and Other Poems in a local library in the near future. Doubtless I will talk about what inspired me to write a given poem. However, if I am asked what a particular poem means I shall politely respond that I would be interested to hear the questioners own interpretation prior to (possibly) providing my own perspective.
As always I would be interested in your comments. How do my fellow poets feel about explaining their poetry? Also, if you are not a poet but enjoy reading poetry, do you find a poets explanations helpful or do they take away from your enjoyment of their work?
You can find Leaving and Other Poems in paperback and Kindle on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09R3HR9KG/ (for the UK), and here, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R3HR9KG/
(for the US and elsewhere).
Miss Flow
I know a young lady named Miss Flow
Who works in a place known as Soho.
She dances on stage
With pretty Miss Page,
But my wife she forbids me to go!
There Was A Young Lady of Sri Lanka
There was a young lady of Sri Lanka
Who, being unable to master the Japanese tanka,
Composed a fine sonnet
Whilst Wearing a bonnet
As she danced on a large oil tanker!
The Future of the Audio Book
An interesting article on the future of audio books, https://goodereader.com/blog/audiobooks/audiobooks-ai-and-humans-where-do-they-stand.
Will AI (artificial intelligence) replace human narrators as the technology grows ever more human-like? AI is much cheaper than employing a human narrator.
The author of the article speculates that books narrated by humans may become a more expensive niche market while the majority of audio titles are narrated by artificial intelligence.
As a registered blind reader, I listen to a large number of audio books, most of which are produced by audible.co.uk (a sister company of Amazon). All of these titles are narrated by humans. In addition, I listen to books on Amazon’s Kindle using the text to speech facility which relays the contents of a book audibly to the reader.
Whilst the news or other factual material usually works well when voiced by AI or screen reading software, poetry does not, nor does fiction.
Several of my books (“The Writer’s Pen” and “My Old Clock I Wind”) are available as downloads from audible.co.uk. Both titles are voiced by human narrators and I can not imagine AI being able to put the emotion into reading which good human narrators do.
Having written the above, if one becomes engrossed in a book read by an electronic voice (for example by text to speech on a Kindle) one can sometimes become so engrossed in the plot/storyline that it is possible to forget one is listening to an artificial voice.
In conclusion, I can’t see human narrators disappearing any time soon at least where poetry and other works requiring expressiveness are concerned.
A Young Lady Who is Sometimes Sporty
A young lady who is sometimes sporty
Has a reputation for being very naughty.
When on the field
All the men yield,
But sometimes she likes to be sporty …
K Morris - Poet 