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Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2000-08-13 03:43 AM



Hooked on Poetry

Was it the words from the raven of Poe
That first got you tangled in webs you didn’t know
The rhythm and thought of the black nevermore
And the tapping just luring you into the core

Or was it the night you were first mesmerized
By a fire burning bright in a tiger’s wild eyes
Tell me what was the dreaded and feared symmetry
That first got you hooked on the word poetry

Were you suddenly caught in a huge Hug O’ War
Full of cuddles and kisses you didn’t know before
Were you lured by an oyster and walrus that talk
And ended up going on a long jabber walk

Did you sail in a shoe to catch small herring fish
Did you first hear a rhyme of a spoon and a dish
Tell me when did you first know of Winnie the Pooh
Was it he and a beetle that first captured you

Or did you once wander in woods dark and deep
On a New England evening in snowy white steep
With a horse needing rest from the burdensome load
That showed you the less traveled poetry road

Perhaps you were charmed in a lyrical way
By a master who called you a bright summers day
Was a sonnet the song that first opened your mind
To the wonders of verses with rhythm and rhyme

Even a poem with no meter at all
May have caught your attention with thoughts strange and small
With the notion that jujubees lined in a row
Could remind one of glories from years long ago

Whatever it was that incited your taste
For the beauty of poetry happened in haste
For the first time you hear lines a poet conceived
You are caught in a web that you cannot unweave

Elizabeth Santos




[This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 08-13-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved
Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
1 posted 2000-08-13 03:59 AM


Liz--this is so amazing and you once again bring me to my knees in honoring you.  I for one am caught in this web and I dont even want out.lol  You bring smiles and tears to us and you bring joy and sadness but all through your works and we love you for that.

To answer the question----Robert Frost and Kahlil Gibran  

[This message has been edited by Mark Bohannan (edited 08-13-2000).]

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
2 posted 2000-08-13 04:13 AM


Mark, I think others are caught in your web, for your writing is superb. As for me it was Christopher Robin. But KG is one of my favorites. Sometimes I read him aloud to my grown children. Thank you so much for your kind words, and know that I am also caught in your web
Liz

Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
3 posted 2000-08-13 09:43 AM


Liz, this is wonderful! So many cool references here...I have to admit it was Shakespeare for me (with a bit of Frost). Lovely poem!
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
4 posted 2000-08-13 09:47 AM


This is truly wonderful, Elizabeth - I love the flow - I love the allusions.... It's great...

For me, it was teaching with today's Literature texts... and having to dig into the school archives to find substantial poetry worth teaching...



[This message has been edited by Nan (edited 08-13-2000).]

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
5 posted 2000-08-13 10:13 AM


Good morning Elizabeth,
Your mastery of the language is exquisite. This writing is more than great, it's supendous! What an artist you are.

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
6 posted 2000-08-13 10:15 AM


I had heard the meter and might
of fortuitous pens that would write
spreading love through sonnet and song
it's to this world I would hope to belong...

don't recall which was the first
who lured me to the world of verse,
could it have been an old clock
when first heard ~ Hickory Dickory Dock...

perhaps the songs with their rhythmic rhyme
is what lured me here, through all time
but I know of one who keeps me here,
and it is you, Sweet Elizabeth, dear!

Loved it, Hug you!

< !signature-->

Karilea
When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ


[This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited 08-13-2000).]

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
7 posted 2000-08-13 10:41 AM


Elizabeth~
A wonderfully stirring pen ...
for me it was the sweet sounds heard at the
hearth of my great great grandmother ...
who sang her verses to me.

I sang long before I recognized it as poetry.

The penning of verse by my mother
turned me on to writing my 'songs'.

A gift of the works of Rod McKuen in his
'Come To Me In Silence' ... greatly influenced me
and opened up the 'need' to write each day.

This is a lovely cork-popper of a poem,
opening us all up as to the 'when-where-why'
Thanks, dear poetess.
~*Marge*~


~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com



BreyerRose
Member
since 2000-08-12
Posts 55
Easton, Pa USA
8 posted 2000-08-13 10:47 AM


Yes, I too am caught in the web, the spider, my father.  I wish I could write like him.  This was a great piece and the words ring true in my ears.  

Hugs and Kisses,
Paula


Sven
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA
9 posted 2000-08-13 11:51 AM


Just wonderful Liz. . .

For me, it was poetry in general. . . but it was the most unlikely of poets, e e cummings, that got me hooked on not only reading, but writing and expressing myself through this most compact and visual of forms. . .

Loved everything about this. . . especially the allusions!!  Going through, saying to myself, "Yep. . . I've read that one!!"  

-------------------------------------------------------------

That which gives light must endure burning
--Victor Frankl


Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
10 posted 2000-08-13 12:05 PM


Poet devine,
Shakespeare will do it all right, but I believe from infancy rhythm in engrained in us, we just don't recall the first poem. Thank you for the comments

Nan,
You are truly steeped in poetry and with distinguished aquaintances. Thanks so much for your comments

Bill,
Thank you, my romantic poet friend

Sunshine,
You brought sunshine to my face this morning with your verse.Thank you

Marge,
No wonder poetry flows so swiftly from your pen, IT'S IN THE GENES! You must have slendid memories of songs being sung at home fromm early childhood. Thanks for the input

Paula,
Oh how wonderful it must be to have a parent who writes poetry. Thank you for the response

Sven,
Had fun writing this one this morning. Your remarks are interesting. Thank you

Liz

[This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 08-13-2000).]

tori
Senior Member
since 1999-06-18
Posts 520
Mechanicsville, Maryland, USA
11 posted 2000-08-13 12:21 PM


Elizabeth, this was great!! totaly enjoyed it, I think it was Poe that got me first but Shakespeare took my breath away you could tell he had some influnce in my first poem...lol second grade we were asked to write something about our pet's and it started then....in 1965
Rebble
My dog Rebble is a good old dog
Sleeps like a bear
And eats like a hog
He runs like a deer
And he hops like a rabbit
He smiles like a human
and thats his habbits..lol

If with pen in hand I've made you think
I've not wasted one drop of ink
Vlh.
visit my site~ http://www.hsanet.net/user/dkm/hellomy.htm

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
12 posted 2000-08-13 01:44 PM


Tori, For second grade, that was a masterpiece, and cute as can be, Thank you for sharing it
Liz

Paula Finn
Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546
missouri
13 posted 2000-08-13 01:49 PM


For me it was the Highwayman that captured this poets soul...what memories you bring back

[This message has been edited by Paula Finn (edited 08-13-2000).]

jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
14 posted 2000-08-13 01:55 PM


A lovely, wonderful poem ES. Don't really know what started this with me.  So many things I read and admired, but did something in particular spark the poetic side I try to have...I honestly don't know.

Enjoyed this much.

jwesley

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

15 posted 2000-08-13 02:00 PM


Oh Elizabeth!!!  I'm crying again over your words, but this time it is through the laughter of memory...Y'see...I was a cheerleader, and I started out writing cheers!!!  Oh my, WHAT HAPPENED!?!  ROFL...

Thank you so much...I'll keep that one with me today...sometimes I just amuse myself...ha ha ha

Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada
16 posted 2000-08-13 02:27 PM


I loved this Liz!       

For me ... almost every children's book, every lullibye, every beautiful word I could read or listen to at the knee of my mother or grandfather, held me captive, poetry or no.

If I must pick a favorite ... I honestly must say "Yurtle the Turtle" by Dr. Seuess for both  it's lesson in life, and it's sweet rhyme ... how's that for sophisticated  

Wonderful memories this has brought back ... thank you yet again Liz!  

Best wishes,
/Kit

ellie LeJeune
Member Elite
since 2000-01-10
Posts 4156
King of Prussia, PA USA
17 posted 2000-08-13 03:02 PM


Dear Liz; What a marvelously creative poem this is!
I must tell you that in high school, someone gave me a tiny book of Elizabeth Barrett Brownings "Sonnets to the Portuguese." My first poem was a sonnet, and I've been a junkie ever since.
You poetry touches me everytime. You are, quite simply, the best! love, ellie

Summers haunting melody
that awakens
the butterflies,
calling them to join
the dance
in their silent song
of praise to God.

eL

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
18 posted 2000-08-13 05:40 PM


Paula,
Thanks for sharing

jwesly,
well, whatever it was, you somwhow ended up here on passions. Thanks

serenity,
Oh, those terrible cheers!But we knew them all by heart. If you could hear the ones from MY high school, you would die laughing. Now you've got me laughing. Thanks

Kit,
You did have a poetic childhood, it seems. My favorite childhood poem was "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" (sp?) and still remains today one of my very favorite poems

ellie, Wow, a sonnet junkie who writes beautiful free verse. No wonder you got hooked, someone gave you a gift to last a lifetime. But, what happened to the sonnets?
Thanks , Ellie for your comments

Liz

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
19 posted 2000-08-14 12:09 PM


Elizabeth you are so precious and this is truly delightful....you covered so many of them in such a wonderful way that I'm sure they all would be impressed....I can't say enough about the joy you bring to all of us.. well I have to go now because........

the time has come the walrus said
to speak of many things
of shoes and ships and sealing wax
and cabbages and kings
and wether the sea is boiling hot
and wether pigs have wings
"but wait a while!" the oysters cried
"before we have our chat
for most of us are out of breath
and all of us are fat."
"no hurry," said the carpenter
they thanked him much for that.

"a loaf of bread," the walrus said
"is what we chiefly need,
some pepper and vinager too
would be very good indeed,
and then oysters dear
we can begin our feed."
"but not on us!" the oysters cried
feeling a little blue
"after such kindness
that would be a dismal thing to do."
the carpenter said nothing but,
"do you enjoy the view?"

that's all I can remember...the point is..yes those are the kinds of things that hook you on poetry....have a good night..

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
20 posted 2000-08-14 07:58 AM


ethome, Those memories from childhood are pretty strong. Thanks for bringing back those delightful verses. For me Eugene Field's poem reeled me in, but I can only recall two verses

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!"
Said Wynken,Blynken,And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in the beautiful sea
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish
Never afeard are we"
So cried the stars to the fisherman three
Wynken,Blynken,and Nod.

You can't help but love poetry as a child when you mother reads you these lines
Thanks, ethome for your response
Liz


Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

21 posted 2000-08-14 09:51 AM


Lizzie,
i have got kicked 3 times in the last day trying to reply to this..
I remain undaunted ...lol
I ADORE this poem....its so perfect...
one of my favs of yours
thank you for the memories it brought flooding in when I read it....
thinking of you dear, sweet poet
love ya
jm

There are places inside our souls -
that have never been touched.
There are places inside our hearts -
that need to be loved this much.
~jm~


Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
22 posted 2000-08-14 10:32 AM


Fantastic work, Elizabeth!  Thus quoth the raven, nevermore!  I recall my English teacher reading Poe and scaring the wits out of me, but yes, it is our early exposure to such classics that gets us hooked!

Corinne

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
23 posted 2000-08-14 11:37 AM


This is so wonderful Liz...you have started such thought back to the beginning for so many...I think I started with singing too...and then there was A Child's Garden of Verses....and Longfellow, we memorized Hyawatha in grade school, because our school was named for him...

Thanks for this beautiful poem and the beautiful poet that shares with us.

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
24 posted 2000-08-14 01:13 PM


Janet Marie,
Sounds like you are having computer problems.Thanks for your comments and well wishes - very much appreciated

Corinne,
Everytime I think of The Raven, I can only imagine Vincent Price reciting it. Talk about creeps!
Thanks for your input

Martie,
Yes, I had forgotten about A Child's Garden of verses. I was raised on that. It's nice to recall those days when mother read them to us
Thanks dear
Liz

Gemini
Senior Member
since 1999-12-15
Posts 1203
Wisconsin, USA
25 posted 2000-08-14 01:35 PM


Elizabeth-I think its always been the ones that tug at the heart strings that were the winnners, my favorite always being Desederata.  Nice piece, I enjoyed your tribute.
Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium
26 posted 2000-08-16 04:22 AM


Liz,
This is another of your fantastic poems on show... and I am pretty sure that this show will go on forever.... what a wonderful way of writing... forever enjoyable...

to your question,
There were amongst a few that got me writing (remember, I started writing notes and prose before poems...), the prominent poets whose works inspired me were Charles Dickens, H.H.Munro (Saki) and Shakespeare ... as for the poets are considered, how can I say whose work I liked to read the most... well let me just say Robert Frost, Wordsworth, Rabindranath Tagore, ...

but what got me writing poems were perhaps the lyrics to songs from rock/pop bands like Pink Floyd, Metallica, and many others whose musically ardent fan I have been for the past 8-10 years ever since I first listened to Springsteen songs like Dancing in the Dark and Phil Collins/Genesis etc... and this lost is endless...

regards,
sudhir

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
27 posted 2000-08-16 04:44 AM


Gemini, Thanks so much for your remarks

Sudhir, You are a hound dog to sniff this one out of the back pages. Thank you for your comments. You named a few poets I'm not familiar with
My greatest pleasure in poetry was the wonderful lyrics written for Brazilian music in the 1960's. Vinicius de Moraes had a command of the Portuguese language like nothing I've seen since in poetry or music. Then put it to those samba rhythms, and it's what we call soft jazz. But oh, the lyrics!
Thanks Sudhir, for you input
Liz

Irish Rose
Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

28 posted 2002-01-21 04:34 PM


thank you for this one!

Kathleen--(Kay)
A true friend does not love you for who you are, but in spite of who you are." -- Caroline Tran

Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136
Mobile, AL
29 posted 2002-01-22 03:01 PM


I don't know who brought this up, but I would like  to thank them and also to thank you for writing something wonderful. I can't believe I missed this before. May I put in a request that you re post it in Open 18? I feel like a lot of people are missing out with this being archived. LOL! I'm having challenge thoughts here. Perhaps the question this poem asks could be a good subject for our poets. It could make for some wonderful insight into where poetry had its beginning with some of us. PLEASE POST IT IN 18, Dear Lady?
passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
30 posted 2003-01-13 03:13 AM


yes! nice write!
Alison
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
31 posted 2013-03-10 03:04 AM


Perfection!
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