Rhythm and rhyme

'tis time I answered another question, and this occasion sees a cultured one.  These worry me a little, as I'm never sure how well I'll be able to respond, but I'll give it a go.

The enquiry was about my thoughts on poetry, and was prompted by some of the stranger verses which I occasionally post on the long-suffering Twitter.

The answer is that I love poetry and always have, since even before schooldays.  In those early years I delighted in trying to read the tongue twisters of Dr Seuss (Tweetle Beetles were my favourite, along with the chicks with their bricks, blocks and clocks), and the wonderful works of Edward Lear (the Yonghy Bonghy Bo could make me both laugh and cry.)

In fact, I do sometimes wonder if such early influences helped me to become a writer - with the evocative and entrancing use of language, but also the creation of so many memorable characters.

In later years my tastes developed to more classical poetry.  In this field, as in many others, I tend to the old-fashioned.  Some will wince at me saying this - how twee! - but I still prefer my poetry to rhyme.

I love the gentler poets, particularly those who write about the natural world. John Betjeman is a delight, but probably my favourite is Housman.  And here, I shall attempt a Hall first for these blogs and try to quote one of my most loved of his works, and very appropriate for this time of year -

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now / Is hung with bloom along the bough / And stands about the woodland ride / Wearing white, for eastertide."

Splendid! 

And here I emphasise, I'm not comparing my curious Twitter rhymes to these amazing poets, just trying to explain where the curse of my verse (I had to drop one in!) comes from.

Two final matters to mention here. Firstly, the site has a new page, dedicated to the play, if you're interested in reading more about it - www.thetvdetective.com/play.html

And finally, a song for this morning.  And given we're on a highbrow theme (or the best approximation I can manage), how about a similar-such type song?  In which case, I nominate Kate Bush's Cloudbusting. 

Aside from the beauty of the music there are some fascinating stories behind that one!  And if you look it up for a listen, make sure you try the full length version.  It's a truly haunting song, in many ways.