We had apologies from Nancy, Ralph, SueJ, Dave,Jane
I read Harvest Moon by Ted Hughes which we all enjoyed. Ted Hughes, since his death, perhaps has fallen out fo favour a little and the controversy surrounding his relationship with Sylvia Plath lingers on. (Please see previous months where Plath has been linked). However, I am a fan ( of both poets) and this poem was very lyrical, straightforward in its meaning and as ever with Hughes, surprising in some of its linguistic choices.
I also read The Sound Collector by Roger McGough
Vicky read Thought Fox by Ted Hughes, so the Hughes connection was continued! Without prior collaboration as well.
She also read This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams. I'm afraid this caused me to bang on and on for quite a bit about how much this poet has influenced twentieth century verse, how he had clashed with TS Eliot and how important a poet he was in my development (such as it is) as a poet. Read the one about the red wheelbarrow.
Lynn read One Art a villanelle by Elizabeth Bishop, a very importrant US poet. We discussed this most difficult of poetic forms, which Sue L knows a lot about. She of course, cited Do Not Go Gntle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas as probably the most well known example.
She also read The Raincoat by Ada Limón
Irene read a poem from Gaby Morgan's anthology, Poems of the Sea by Sara Teasdale. The poem was Sea Longing. I have to mention the Gaby was the first editor to publish a collection of mine and she continues to take my poems for anthologies.
She also read Emily Dickenson's poem Exultation is in the Going
Irene also told us about the Sir John Sloane museum in Dulwich which she recently visited. As ever with this group, we all explored a fascinating side street away from our main road of poetry. Excellent.
Catherine read an adaptation of the Harrow School Song, rewritten for Doncaster High School for Girls. This struck a real chord with several membrs of the group, no pun intended. And she showed us a photo of her younger self with redder hair than she has now. All grist to our poetic mill!
Sue L read Colours by Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a poem Joan Baez has set to music.
Sue then talked about villanelles and read one of several that she has written. It's called The Marjoram Garden-After Darkness
Sue has kindly allowed me to share a copy which can be seen below this post. It really is a wonderful poem.
Caarol read Musée des Beaux Arts by WH Auden and provided a picture of the Breugel painting which is the subject of the poem. This makes this an Ekphrastic poem, a poem about a piece of art.
Carol also read Campion from New Cemetry by Simon Armitage, his new collection. The poem is about a moth. Carol had heard him read from the new book and was very impressed. This led to a long conversation about Simon Armitage.
Chris read The Joys of Getting Old by Maxine Bailey Maxine published her first collection, Life's Beautiful Rollercoaster, in 2024.
Chris also read Bed In Summer by RL Stephenson
Here is Sue's Villanelle
The Marjoram Garden (After the Darkness)
In the garden, planted once with joy and care
Now sober, purple weeds are covering all,
Must dimming of the brightness bring despair?
Digging with dreams, like gardeners everywhere
They'd show the plot to all who came to call
The garden, planted once with joy and care.
They worked on it in every moment spare
Til late at night from crack of sparrow call
Must dimming of the brightness bring despair?
Now time has ravaged quite beyond repair
Those sumptuous colours, even of the fall
In the garden planted once with joy and care.
How could they know what would befall them there?
What sudden darkness overtake them all?
Must dimming of the brightness bring despair?
Though gone back now to nature, it's still there
So walk amongst the weeds, smile and recall.
In your garden, planted once with joy and care
Must dimming of the brightness bring despair?
Sue Levan