Easter Challenge!!!!!

easter challenge - day twelve!

HELLO THERE BOOKCLUBBERS!

Today, especially as I am writing this in the evening, I have chosen a poem called 'Moonrise' by DH Lawrence.http://www.blackcatpoems.com/l/moonrise.html

This was the first poem by Lawrence that I have read, and it is beautiful!!!!!!!!! On an evening like this, it fits perfectly! I hope it was as beautiful with you as it was with me!

Havve a read and let me know what you think :)

"That beauty is a thing beyond the grave, That perfect, bright experience never falls To nothingness, and time will dim the moon Sooner than our full consummation here In this odd life will tarnish or pass away."

Posted at 20:44, 28th March 2011

easter challenge - day eleven!

GOODMORNINGALL!

Day eleven's poem has to be 'Macavity: The Mystery Cat' by TS Eliot!!!!! http://www.poetry-online.org/eliot_macavity_the_mystery_cat.htm

Oh what a wonderful poem it is!!!!! As a cat-lover and owner myself I know that the contents of this poem are incredibly true!!!!!!! It is a beautifully written poem and completely captures the characteristics of a cheeky cat!!!!

Most of you probably know the this poem from the musical Cats, a musical that, I must admit, I am not particularly keen on!!!!!! However, It remains a beautiful poem, one that is a lot of fun to read allowed! Try it!

"And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known (I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone) Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!"

Posted at 10:14, 27th March 2011

easter challenge - day eight, nine and ten!

BOOKCLUBBERS WELCOME!

Apologies for a combined number of days!!!! I have been reading my poems, just not writing them up here! I am now writing to you from my beautiful bedroom at home in sunny Lancashire! EXCITING TIMES! So let us go back to Thursday and see what was rocking the poetry boat........

Day Eight - 'Daffodils' by William Wordsworth. On Thursday I left Glasgow (Sad sad sad), but ohmygoodness what beautiful weather it was! On my way to university I walked past Park and saw the beautiful Daffodils on the embankment. Immediately it was this poem that sprung to mind! And what a wonderful poem it is! Wordsworth's attention to detail in this poem is incredible and I guarantee just reading it will transport you to a hillside somewhere surrounded by a blanket of yellow daffodils. See what you think.....http://www.poetry-online.org/wordsworth_daffodils.htm

"My heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils."

Day Nine - 'The Owl and the Pussycat' by Edward Lear. This is one of my ultimate favourite poems! As a child I had it written on a painted plate in my room. It was always above my bed so I would read it as I went off to sleep. It is without a doubt one of the best childhood poems ever written! I remember reading it to the class at School when I was in Year 8 - very nerve racking! The rhyme scheme in this poem is so so simple, but it really captures the reader, and creates a rhythm which allows us to picture the two characters dancing at the end in perfect harmony. The romance in the poem is something that will remain with me forever, as my introduction to romance! http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/pussy.html

"Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long have we tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?'"

Day Ten - 'Wild Nights' by Emily Dickinson. After waking up to a cold and grey morning, it was time for a bit of 'Wild Nights'! It is a short, but very very effective poem! Its wild and ferocious description of the see, is to me incredibly romantic and exciting! As a lover of the sea, anything related to it has attracts me! Just close your eyes while you read it, and imagine the sea and a special someone! http://www.potw.org/archive/potw58b.html

"Were I with thee, Wild nights should be Our luxury!"

Posted at 10:32, 26th March 2011

easter challenge - day seven!

Morning All!

I have retreated back to AA Milne again this morning......due to my HUGEEEEE breakfast!!! Today I have chosen his poem 'The King's Breakfast'. This is another wonderful children's poem, and believe me it still makes me smile today. I love it! I used to love doing the voices for this poem with my Grannie, and even today it is a fantastic poem to have a read over. Basically, AA Milne is just a genius!

Here is a link: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-king-s-breakfast/

'The Queen took The butter And brought it to His Majesty; The King said, "Butter, eh?" And bounced out of bed. "Nobody," he said, As he kissed her Tenderly, "Nobody," he said, As he slid down the banisters, "Nobody, My darling, Could call me A fussy man - BUT I do like a little bit of butter to my bread!'

Posted at 09:53, 23rd March 2011

easter challenge - day six

DAY SIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Today is the day for some Roger McGough! I have chosen his poem 'You and I'.......here is a link: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/you-and-i/

A short but extremely good poem for today! I have been to see Roger McGough at poetry readings a few times and he is utterly superb. I love his use of rhythm and punctuation in this poem, really gives it some bite. Let me know what you think!

'You bleed. I see crocodile tears. I withdraw. You reel from the impact.'

Posted at 19:49, 22nd March 2011

easter challenge - day three, four and five

BookClubbers, apologies for the combination of these three days! I have been in Edinburgh over the weekend and finally touched down back in Glasgow!

Day Three - On Saturday morning I read Tennyson's 'Tithonus' for the first time in about a year. Oh such a good poem! I studied Tennyson at school and this was always one of my favourites out of his collection. Like Hardy, Tennyson's ability to capture the emotion of the narrator is incredible. It is hard not to feel very involved with the life of Tithonus in this poem. Have a read and let me know what you think! http://charon.sfsu.edu/tennyson/TITHONUS.HTML

'The woods decay, the woods decay and fall,'

Day Four - Yesterday was time for a childhood classic! After a tiring weekend it was nice to snuggle up in bed on a Sunday night with a bit of AA Milne! I read his delightful poem 'Lines and Squares'. This was my favourite poem as a childhood, and I can remember it being read to me endlessly. My dad was of course wonderful at it, but my Grannie was incredible! I remember she bought my a copy of the Milne poems and I always begged her to read this one to me. She did the voices wonderfully! Even today I still play this game! It is set in London, so whenever I go I am always playing lines and squares in my head. I even did it when I went two weeks ago at the age of 18! Next time you are walking down the street, watch out for those bears! http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lines-and-squares/

"Whenever I walk in a London street, I'm ever so careful to watch my feet;"

Day Five - TODAY! Seamus Heaney day I feel! Another one from the schooldays! I studied this poem, 'Death of a Naturalist' in Year 10 for my GCSE's and immediately fell in love with Heaney as a poet. I have been obsessed with his work ever since. So thank you to my GCSE teacher Mr Bisset!!!!!! I especially love this poem because of its descriptions, they are incredible. The immense attention to detail makes you feel like you are the one literally seeing the Frogspawn in the pond. The way Heaney uses these descriptions to emphasise his themes is another fascinating element which draws me in all the more! I hope you like it too! http://www.eliteskills.com/c/9327

"Some sat

Poised like mud grenades, their blunt heads farting.

I sickened, turned, and ran. The great slime kings

Were gathered there for vengeance and I knew

That if I dipped my hand the spawn would clutch it."

Posted at 21:35, 21st March 2011

easter challenge - day two

Morning BookClubbers

Day Two = Poem Two!!!!!!

Another of my favourite poets today, Thomas Hardy. I adore his poetry!

I have chosen his poem 'The Going' for today. This one of my favourite's of his, but also has a lot of significance to me through personal experience. Here is a link to the poem: http://www.poetryconnection.net/poets/Thomas_Hardy/2716

I first read this poem at a time when I had lost someone very close to me. The accurateness of Hardy's description of the emotions one feels at the time of a loss is incredible, and for me was spot on. When you read it, focus on his use of techniques and how he uses these to convey his emotion.

It really is a very, very beautiful poem.

"I seem but a dead man held on end

To sink down soon...O you could not know

That such swift fleeing

No soul foreseeing -

Not even I - would undo me so!"

Posted at 11:59, 18th March 2011

easter challenge - day one

BookClubbers HELLO!!!

Today is Day 1 of our Easter Challenge! I hope you have read or are going to read your daily poem!

Today I have chosen to read my favourite poem OF ALL TIME, 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'

Here is a link to a copy of the poem: http://www.bartleby.com/198/1.html

I first discovered the poem about two years ago, when my old English Lit teacher suggested it to me. It was indeed love at first sight with this poem! Have a read through it and consider the use of imagery and the self deprecation of Prufrock himself. It remains my aim in life to find J. Alfred Prufrock. Never mind Brad Pitt, Prufrock is perfection.

'I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.'

Posted at 13:59, 17th March 2011

today's interesting bits :)

Hello BookClubbers!

I hope you all enjoyed todays show!!!!! I certainly did!!!!!

Here are some links and stuff from the show:

STaG Website (to get your tickets for 'No Way Out'!) http://www.studenttheatreatglasgow.com/current-projects/nowayout

Video of Benjamin Zephaniah from BBC Interview - WATCH THIS! He is a very very cool man! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12688415 Also this is BZ's website, check it out! http://benjaminzephaniah.com/content/index.php!

REMEMBER THE EASTER CHALLENGE! A poem a day to keep the bugs away! I will be posting on here the poem I will be reading each day so get in touch with your choices too!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL.

Posted at 16:30, 16th March 2011

easter challenge!!!!!

HelloHelloHello!

I hope you are all excited and ready for tomorrows show!!!!!! It will be the last one before Easter. BUT NO TEARS LISTENERS! We have a fabulous challenge for you to keep you BookClubbed up for the whole holiday! Listen in to hear this exciting Easter Challenge!!!!!

There will also be all the Arts news and normal chitchat to keep you going over the Easter Hols!

SPEAK TOMORROW!

Posted at 09:13, 15th March 2011