Tuesday, June 25, 2013

No Tuesday Poem

Yeah
there is no Tuesday Poem
not here
no words about the weather
no exuberant escape
no tales of branches smashed on cars
water washing beaches onto the street
and time spent in the dark
cold
powerless
night

Because this is the morning
and in time, the wind eases
and the sun comes out
it always does
uncaring
unflinching
pulling everything into stark relief

A.J.Ponder

Storms happen, this poem was more about the aftermath - I hope you're all having a better week than some of the poor souls catching the worst of this storm

A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Weary Traveller... by Mary Wroth


The weary Traveller, who tyred, sought
In places distant farre, yet found no end
Of paine or labour, nor his state to mend:
At last with joy is to his home backe brought.
Findes not more ease though he with joy be fraught,
When past is feare content like soules ascend:
Then I, on whom new pleasures doe descend,
Which now as high as first-borne blisse is wrought.
He tyred with his paines, I with my minde;
He all content receiues by ease of lymbs:
I, greatest happinessse that I doe finde,
Beliefe for faith, while hope in pleasure swimmes.
Truth saith 'twas wrong conceit bred my despight,
Which once acknowledg'd, brings my hearts delight.

The poem.  Now why did I choose this poem?  I was looking for a travelling poem, something a llittle upbeat because I wasn't going to post today (except maybe to acknowledge Mary for being one of the winners in this year's flash fiction competition. Congratulations Mary!) but here I am completely non-functioning - and trying to cheer myself up and the last line just said something important.

Of course now that I've looked up the author - I'm seeing the poem in a whole different light.  And maybe that is why I like these old poems -- for all their dense writing and obscure phrasiology, it gives the imagination so much room to play.  Anyway I hope you enjoyed this one too, and if you want to find out more about Mary Wroth, she was born 1587, married at 17 and quite an interesting literary figure, so it's well worth reading about her life here http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/mary-wroth

have a fantastic week, everyone, cheers,
A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The Spider Poem Roundup - with a crafty surprise -

It's been fun revisiting  some of the poems of my youth, and whoever would have thought it would prove to be as interesting as - well a spider spinning a web.  As usual the links are alphabetical - and I've also added a link to a special piece of jewellery - a piece of gorgeous poetic fantasy from an amazing designer - with a link to a blog includes step by step instructions about how to make one for yourself -

Seriously, I know I've said this before, but do all my favourite authors write spider poems?

So with no further ado here they are...


Attercop! (Flies and Spiders) by J.R.R Tolkien
"...Here am I, naughty little fly..."  A total family fav from when the kids were first exploring fantasy.

Bruce and the Spider by Bernard Barton
A spiders act of courage spurs on "Robert the Bruce" or so this poem claims. 
Crystal Web Collar Necklace Copyright 2008, Margot Potter

Crystal Web Collar Necklace 
The spider weaving the fairy necklace is like a spider poem come to life...

Invitation to the Party by A.J. Ponder
"I have nothing to bring... "


A Noiseless patient spider by Walt Whitman

The Redback on the Toilet Seat by Slim Newton
An old fav amongst the young 'uns - and there are a few other poems in amongst this little collection of spider poems - at spiderzrule.com/spider5.htm

The Spider by Emily Dickenson
A gnome pun? really? 

Spider by A.J. Ponder
"Oviously..." ;)

The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt
"Come into my parlour said the Spider to the fly..."

A Spider Sewed at Night by Emily Dickenson
I get this feeling Emily rather liked spiders...


The Spider Sewed a Silver Ball by Emily Dickenson
I think what I meant was I get this feeling Emily really...really liked spiders...

The Spider’s Web ( A Natural History) by E.B. White (Of Charlotte's Web fame)
meh - until the last line and then you are reading it over and over again....

Upon a Spider Catching a Fly by Edward Taylor (1642-1729)
There's no escaping the religous overtones of this old poem, but there's no escaping the keen observation and the fun use of language either, even if, or especially because it is quite old fashioned.

And finally in honour of the arachnophobes...

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey
Along came a spider
And sat down beside her...
And frightened miss Muffet away.

And so with that, no more spider poems - at least not for a long while - I promise...

cheers,
A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.

P.S. If anyone finds or remembers any more spider poems they'd like me to include, comment below and I'll add them to the list above!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

A Cloak for a Fairy (Anonymous)

Victorian Fairy Painting Anonymous
Spider, Spider, what are you spinning?
A cloak for a fairy, I'm just beginning.
What is it made of, tell me true?
Threads of moonshine, pearls of dew.
When will the fairy be wearing it?
tonight when the glow worms' lamps are lit.
Can I see her if I come peeping?
All good children must then be sleeping.



A strange co-incidence happened today - I - all terribly tied up with deadlines hadn't organised my spider poem round up, and my mother was in fact searching for an old spider poem she couldn't quite remember.  And so she complained, that when she looked for this old family favourite - all she could find was my blog.  Of course, this was good news because we found it in one of our old poetry books not long after and now you too can enjoy this old - almost forgotten poem :)

Apologies Lorraine, it looks like there's going to be one more week before I complete my spider round-up. although it really is a fairy tale poem too, and therefore also belongs in my Portal to Fairy Tale Poetry.

Cheers, everyone, enjoy your week, and if spiders don't scare you why not spin your way into the silken danger of my spider poetry roundup here at http://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/tuesday-poem-spider-poem-roundup-with.html

cheers,
A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.