The Poetry Thread

[HopefulNebula]

(OK, I admit: this was totally inspired when I found this while browsing the Intertubes just now.)

What are your favorite poems, and why? If there's full text online somewhere, feel free to link to it.

I have two favorites. The first is "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot. I had a teacher in high school who would always read it when the school held poetry nights, and that's when I fell in love. I didn't even understand a lot of it until years later.

(And years later, I used it as partial inspiration for the longest fanfic I ever wrote, and it remains one of my favorite things I've written.)

The next is "Hedgehog" by Paul Muldoon. I did my final paper for my college degree on Muldoon, and my one regret was that I couldn't include this poem in my mix.

[EntAllat]

Just about anything by Alfred Lord Tennysen or e.e. cummings. Gosh, it's been such a long time since I've read or thought about any poetry I can't remember now. I'm going to have to go digging around to jog my memory.

[Honeybee]

I'm rather fond of this poem by Margaret Atwood:

Variations on the Word Sleep

This poem by Amy Lowell:

The Taxi

This one by Mary Oliver:

Wild Geese

[Mr Smith]

Thank you, Honeybee, for making this thread!

I love and connect with poetry far more than I do with prose, but it took me a long time to realise that because school really does not do it any good at all. I hated studying war poetry, it nearly killed Wilfred Owen and The Charge of the Light Brigade by Tennyson for me, but now I absolutely love war poetry, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen in particular. My background is also very epic poetry oriented because I studied classics, so I will never be able to live without a copy of The Odyssey close at hand.

But right now the one poem that means the most to me is so you want to be a writer? by Charles Bukowski. It's been very comforting and motivating these past few months in the dark moments when I'd contemplated giving up writing altogether.

[EntAllat]

But right now the one poem that means the most to me is so you want to be a writer? by Charles Bukowski. It's been very comforting and motivating these past few months in the dark moments when I'd contemplated giving up writing altogether.

No, no, no. You can't give up writing! I love the way you put words together - even just reading your posts on the forum is enjoyable. (Though I have to say, I can relate to that poem. I can't not write and would do so in solitary confinement if for no other reason than to get it out.) I know there's fan poetry out there but I don't think I've ever read any. Ever thought about trying to write something in poetic form?

[Brandyjane]

I love all the Tennyson love! "In Memoriam" is my favorite poem.

Edited for spelling fail!

[HopefulNebula]

Thank you, Honeybee, for making this thread!

I love and connect with poetry far more than I do with prose, but it took me a long time to realise that because school really does not do it any good at all. I hated studying war poetry, it nearly killed Wilfred Owen and The Charge of the Light Brigade by Tennyson for me, but now I absolutely love war poetry, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen in particular. My background is also very epic poetry oriented because I studied classics, so I will never be able to live without a copy of The Odyssey close at hand.

But right now the one poem that means the most to me is so you want to be a writer? by Charles Bukowski. It's been very comforting and motivating these past few months in the dark moments when I'd contemplated giving up writing altogether.

I'm not Honeybee, but you're welcome! (There are so many H names on here. I kind of feel like how everybody named Katie at my high school must have felt.)

Speaking of using poetry as a writing tool, I remember Vikram Seth once wrote a novel entirely in verse. The Golden Gate, I believe it's called. So it can be done, and translated into modern times. So go on! Write an epic poem about the adventures of the Enterprise! (Don't make me dare you.)

[Kotik]

Enterprise poetry is fun Came up with this limerick not too long ago :

Something didn't seem right,
Even though the work load was light.
With the coils overheating
He took quite a beating
But she kissed it all better at night

[Mr Smith]

Thank you, Honeybee, for making this thread!

I love and connect with poetry far more than I do with prose, but it took me a long time to realise that because school really does not do it any good at all. I hated studying war poetry, it nearly killed Wilfred Owen and The Charge of the Light Brigade by Tennyson for me, but now I absolutely love war poetry, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen in particular. My background is also very epic poetry oriented because I studied classics, so I will never be able to live without a copy of The Odyssey close at hand.

But right now the one poem that means the most to me is so you want to be a writer? by Charles Bukowski. It's been very comforting and motivating these past few months in the dark moments when I'd contemplated giving up writing altogether.

I'm not Honeybee, but you're welcome! (There are so many H names on here. I kind of feel like how everybody named Katie at my high school must have felt.)

Speaking of using poetry as a writing tool, I remember Vikram Seth once wrote a novel entirely in verse. The Golden Gate, I believe it's called. So it can be done, and translated into modern times. So go on! Write an epic poem about the adventures of the Enterprise! (Don't make me dare you.)

My apologies! I have no idea why I thought Honeybee. Usually I'm really good with noticing names. I had lots of Katies in school too, and Kirstys.

And an epic poem about the adventures of the Enterprise would be quite an interesting and engaging challenge. What an awesome thought!

[Aquarius]

I actually did a project on this one last winter: How To Be Alone by Tanya Davis.