Wednesday 22 September 2010

About the poets and poems

To download all the poems, follow this link.


Onitsura (1660-1738)

With Matsuo Bashō, Onitsura was  the inventor of the haiku form: more examples here

Samuel Butler (1835-1902)

Mainly known as a novelist (author or Erewhon and The Way of All Flesh), but also an essayist, translator and philosopher.


Kijo Murakami (1865-1938)

Master of the reformed haiku (with fewer rules); his deafness prevented him folliwng a military career.

Adelaide Crapsey (1876-1914)

American teacher and poet, who died of TB.  Responsible for inventing the Cinquain form.


Martin Locock (1962-)

British author, poet, publisher and project manager.

Latvian folk song

The daina or folk songs are a critical part of Lavian culture, recording its complex mythology with roots in pre-Christian times.

Saturday 4 September 2010

Found words or found poetry?

This project was initially going to be called the Foudn Poetry project, but that name had been used already, for found poetry (a method of creating a poem by taking text devised for other purposes (such as prose writing, advertisements, road signs or shop names) and presenting the result as if it were a poem).

It is a common occurence
For the ancillary services
To be provided by the auditors

As they are the ones
With the relevant technical knowledge
To prepare the financial statements

What should I do if I found a poem?

If you have ended up here, it must be because you were intrigued or inspired.  It's up to you whether you keep the card, or leave it somewhere for others to find. 

If you have been reminded that there is a poetry-shape hole in your life, explore some of the links at the bottom of the page, or, better, go to a library and read some poetry books. 

Many people, it seems, are innoculated against poetry by their education - we are left feeling that poetry is hard, demanding a response we may be unable to give. Poems asks nothing but your attention.  Some will speak to you, some will not.  We are not obliged to like, or understand, every poem.