ryhmed couplets Academics High Romantics. A reply from Mike
Tony has posted two poems in rhymed couplets, another post has been a comic horror story - again in rhymed couplets - and yet another post had been a modern interpretation of Anna Karena, I think? There have been many other postings of comic narrative verse.
The collected verse of Pam Ayres has appeared in the library. It is no longer on the shelves; this cannot be said for many volumes of poetry. I know Pam Ayes has achieved fame by appearing on QI but, I can inform ‘Word Cloud’ that she fills concert halls by reciting her poetry, I heard a version of Tartuffe in radio 3 which had been translated into rhymed couplets by Roger Mcgough ( I was reminded of Gilbert and Sullivan.)
A musical about a poet trying to write a successful poem might seem rather daft but ‘My Fair Lady’ is, for the most part, songs joined together by Shaw’s dialogue. Mozart’s operas are musical bits joined by recitatives which provided the narrative. I know things are rather more complex than I have suggested, but there is no reason why poems should not provide the narrative link in a musical - or music drama.
I am interested in the comments on my grandfather’s poem ‘A symphony in Trees’ that I posted last week. There might well be a consensus on interpretation and response. (Also - It may not seem so - but the poem is very ‘politically correct’)
The poet speaks of ‘romance’s ebb and flow’ but there has not been a return of the romantic movement in the twentieth century. I did describe the poet as a Victorian hippy but that is as far as I could go. John Lennon might be the closest, but, as far as I am aware, John Lennon did not ascribe to any creed of the romantics - either politically or musically? Neither did Bob Dylan. Jimi Hendrix certainly let himself go musically and his take on the American Anthem can be given a romantic interpretation but he did not ascribe to the romantic movement. There was a recent showing of the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park and Mick Jagger recited Shelley in estuary English.
I am post hippy and pre-punk which makes me part of a forgotten generation. I have been told this was the generation of New Romantics but I lost interest in popular music long before them. Does anybody think there had been a very brief romantic revival in the late sixties?
Mike
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I think that with all 'new' things, the originators are never forgotten. Take punk. Sid and Sham 69 are always going to be the heros and Rock, Led Zep and Iron Maiden live on as they're classic. I do believe though, with Pam Ayres in particular, you couldn't copy her style as it is a one of a kind. Like Beryl Cook paintings or Jethro! You just couldn't mimic their individuality without 'being them'.
I hope I haven't missed the point as I'm soooooooooooo tired at the moment.
We couldn't have a new generation of romantics, impressionists, punk bands etc, because all punks love Sid, all rockers love Led Zep and all romantics love Keats. We could only mimic their style and bring them back to life for anyone who liked the new poems :( (In my opinion)... Minxie :)
Well, yes Mike! You didn't need all that preamble. Of course there was a romantic revival in the late sixties - it was 1969 when I proposed to Anita!
And Minxie - I've been known to copy Pam Ayres style before now. I've just had another go. So see what you think; it's posted here: http://www.thewordcloud.org/forum/topic/1283/page/1#11124 ;-)
But I can still hear Pam saying the words in her chair, dimpled smiles at each pause ;)
My friend has met Jethro's brother, and apparently he is funnier! ??? So I suppose it is possible.
But like I said 'down there' I probably missed the point as I wasn't sure what it all meant.
Romance in the 60's? There must have been some about ? But I think that's when it all started going a bit wrong? Free love, affairs, divorce, greed, drugs, rock and roll? It all took a bit of a tumble :(
Re the Sixties: sadly you are right - for many, but not for all. Some of our friends' mariages haven't stood the test of time, but many have. Next March Anita and I will celebrate our 40th. Since very soon after we first met she became, and still remains, my best friend.
There was romance in the 60s and it's still here now is the answer then :) Congratulations :) My nan and granddad got to their Golden and were so right together - like the male and female version of each other :) It's so lovely when people meet the right one. I think that the 60's introduced so many bad things though, a different way of life and family values did start to change, passing that on to the next generation, sadly... My marriage didn't work out, but me and my ex still remain good friends, so am glad of that :) He was tempted by a twig!!! lol
Yes, your Pam Ayres impression was very convincing :) (didn't mean it about the wig and cardi) ;)
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