Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 04-23-2022, 06:56 AM
David Callin David Callin is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ellan Vannin
Posts: 3,335
Default Poetry Scotland

I have a poem in Poetry Scotland - a first for me. (A pleasing one.)

I see I workshopped it here in 2015. It's taken a while to find a home. Here, for what it's worth, it is. Just in case you don't usually see Poetry Scotland.

Wile E. Quixote

His plots,
his brilliant ploys,
his cunning capers
are his alone. Had he
a helpmeet, a sidekick,
an unsentimental peasant
to warn him and to heckle,
to look doubtfully
whilst sucking snaggle teeth,
would that be better?

He has the sorrowful countenance
of an unsuccessful wolf:
woebegone and wistful
and slightly singed,
always slightly singed.

His courtship is a series
of untimely detonations,
of frantic scrabbling
in suddenly thin air.
He won't give up.

Maybe behind some bush
or in the very next canyon
this mad pursuit will end,
and he will catch
the fabulous bird -

an unimaginable
consummation.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 04-23-2022, 07:12 AM
Susan McLean Susan McLean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Iowa City, IA, USA
Posts: 10,090
Default

I love it. The title and the parallels are delightful, and the ending feels satisfying.

Susan
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 04-23-2022, 07:31 AM
Matt Q Matt Q is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: England, UK
Posts: 4,988
Default

Was it really 2015? I'd thought I'd seen it a lot more recently that. Anyhow, I was really pleased to see you in Poetry Scotland when the latest issue came through my door. An inspired hybrid and a great poem. Congrats!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 04-23-2022, 07:41 AM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 6,630
Default

Hi David,

What a lovely poem and title! And I like that you are publishing amid the Scots - very nice. I have a poem on Wile E. Coyote that I must now consider discarding, since though I like it, it is I think no match for what you've got here.

Cheers,
John
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 04-23-2022, 08:03 AM
Joe Crocker Joe Crocker is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: York
Posts: 659
Default

Neatly and touchingly done, David. I still love the way that the law of gravity comes into play only after its inevitability finally dawns on Coyote's face.

I wonder if windmills ever made an appearance in the cartoon? Surely the ACME corporation made one?

I was looking on the wiki page and found a quote by George Santayana ‘A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim.’
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 04-24-2022, 04:58 AM
Mark McDonnell Mark McDonnell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Staffordshire, England
Posts: 4,420
Default

Congratulations, David. As I think you said elsewhere, an inspired title just begging for a poem to do it justice. Which this really does.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 04-24-2022, 02:07 PM
David Callin David Callin is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ellan Vannin
Posts: 3,335
Default

Thanks Susan, Matt, John, Joe and Mark. Really pleased to get into PS.

Forgot about the windmills, Joe!

And, Mark, the coast is still clear for anyone who wants to write "Don Coyote". I can easily imagine someone of that name having a brief affair with Joni Mitchell during a residence at the Troubadour in 1967.

I see that Andy Jackson, one of the editors, is an excellent poet himself. He came up with one of my favourite ever titles - "What Made Milngavie Famous". But you have to know how to say Milngavie to appreciate that one.

Cheers

David
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Unread 04-24-2022, 06:46 PM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 6,630
Default

Here's Jerry Lee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfilJ4hNZYI

And here's a great Scot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx0E7Oj_sto

Cheers,
John
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



Forum Right Top
Forum Left Bottom Forum Right Bottom
 
Right Left
Member Login
Forgot password?
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,399
Total Threads: 21,839
Total Posts: 270,785
There are 2499 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Sponsor:
Donate & Support Able Muse / Eratosphere
Forum LeftForum Right
Right Right
Right Bottom Left Right Bottom Right

Hosted by ApplauZ Online