BoxRec Poetry Corner

[BoxBuzz]

Ahh....sheer poetry.....I'll sticky it for a bit....for the month of June or so.

[JDC]

With the internet, and forums etc, are we in danger of reading too many views of the ''modern man''. With fewer and fewer of us reading text from post war days, are we losing/missing something?

Historically, the great minds have been very well read (on a range of literature, dating from generations to hundreds of years). Now, we seem content to accept Bertrand Russel's (or such like's) view on Greek Philosophy, or similar in other fields. Bertrand Russel read all the dam books, and adapted them to suit the time.

I feel that the internet, and especially forums, are much more than an ''interactive newspaper.'' Sometimes the discussions seem like we're going backwards, as we have many more people interacting on the same level. They are not necessarily agreeing, but lacking in broader view of the human race and an ability to draw upon historical views and data.

I'm as much of a victim of this as anyone, as I have read very little ''old'' (pre 1900) text.

I sometimes think science is doing trial and error now, because they have gone down a wrong path. But not many look into the old methods and thought processes. Mathematics was originally used to validate a theory, now it's seen as proof and the sums dictate the path of science. Oh, how times change.

Nothing to do with poetry, but I'm sure Buzz can make everything seem rosy DD

[m1kee50]

Start with the Chartists, JDC, move on to Rousseau, then The Levellers, going back in time and finding the same fires burning. Read Shelley, both of them, Milton, Spenser. Read the Bhagavad Gita.
Then go back to WB Yeats, because he does it better than many people from the 5000 years before him.

[Jaywheel]

who should the Africans blame if there is no rain
there can only be one name
G the first letter it must be

why did Lang predict so much pain
there can only be one name
R is the letter that goes on par

whats that old movie with Michael Caine
On rio they put the blame
there can only be one name
O stands in the shadow

When Kriss Kross missed the bus
they knew who to bangbang
there can only be one name
V is next in the serie

Lost my girl on the peer
Damn grove took her away
there can only be one name
E well thats was Eazy

Lameness in poetry
It's his fault guaranteed
there can only be one name
S H I B B Y

I
S

G
U
I
L
T
Y

[m1kee50]

With the internet, and forums etc, are we in danger of reading too many views of the ''modern man''. With fewer and fewer of us reading text from post war days, are we losing/missing something?

Historically, the great minds have been very well read (on a range of literature, dating from generations to hundreds of years). Now, we seem content to accept Bertrand Russel's (or such like's) view on Greek Philosophy, or similar in other fields. Bertrand Russel read all the dam books, and adapted them to suit the time.

I feel that the internet, and especially forums, are much more than an ''interactive newspaper.'' Sometimes the discussions seem like we're going backwards, as we have many more people interacting on the same level. They are not necessarily agreeing, but lacking in broader view of the human race and an ability to draw upon historical views and data.

I'm as much of a victim of this as anyone, as I have read very little ''old'' (pre 1900) text.
[/quote]

I'd agree with that. People seem very inclined to accept the views of others and follow them. Not everyone, obviously, but large parts of society seem to line up behind ideologies or personalities.

I sometimes think science is doing trial and error now, because they have gone down a wrong path. But not many look into the old methods and thought processes. Mathematics was originally used to validate a theory, now it's seen as proof and the sums dictate the path of science. Oh, how times change.

Nothing to do with poetry, but I'm sure Buzz can make everything seem rosy DD

Speaking from a position of half-knowing what I'm on about... There is a whole bunch of science relating to the macro-level which is verified by maths, this much is true. Getting up to the astro level, the hypotheses which were made before space flight were and are verified daily by these flights, and new experiments are always being carried out on new hypotheses and to verify existing ones. And at the micro- or what you might call atomic level, it is increasingly hard to directly physically verify hypotheses, this is true, but what experiments can be carried out, are. Scientists know the difference between Hypothesis and Theory - its more that the media do not. What is not verifiable remains a Hypothesis, remains possible, not inevitable.

And FYI, Maxwell, Boyle and all those other 19C scientists all had Hypotheses which they had to test out in order to get anywhere. Look for example at the history of atomic theory before the splitting of the atom, or the history of the discovery of pi to see that even in the 'old days' people were relying on maths and models, without the technology, or the knowledge, or the willingness to accept they might be wrong.

[JDC]

Good posts Matt

... I'll look into those poetry suggestions. Have seen some of Yeats, but not the others. Started reading Mandela's ''Long Walk To Freedom'' atm, but will definitely give them a go when I get the chance

[Datsue]

who should the Africans blame if there is no rain
there can only be one name
G the first letter it must be

why did Lang predict so much pain
there can only be one name
R is the letter that goes on par

whats that old movie with Michael Caine
On rio they put the blame
there can only be one name
O stands in the shadow

When Kriss Kross missed the bus
they knew who to bangbang
there can only be one name
V is next in the serie

Lost my girl on the peer
Damn grove took her away
there can only be one name
E well thats was Eazy

Lameness in poetry
It's his fault guaranteed
there can only be one name
S H I B B Y

I
S

G
U
I
L
T
Y

[Marlin Starfish]

Floyd could never dream to be
As skilled as Sumbu Kalambay
When people say 'look at the Gatti fight' I tell 'em
'Shoulda seen what Sumbu did to McCallum'

It really grates me when I see Floyd ranked at no.1
If only the Congolese Italian hadn't been sparked by Nunn
And I can't see how it can be any more fun
To not watch Kalambay box but to watch Floyd run

[Bryn]

Floyd could never dream to be
As skilled as Sumbu Kalambay
When people say 'look at the Gatti fight' I tell 'em
'Shoulda seen what Sumbu did to McCallum'

It really grates me when I see Floyd ranked at no.1
If only the Congolese Italian hadn't been sparked by Nunn
And I can't see how it can be any more fun
To not watch Kalambay box but to watch Floyd run

[Jaywheel]

This thread is not worthy of a sticky. Just my 2c.

Catchy rhymes. Little short for a poem though.

[EddieShredder]

There once was a man called Langers.
He posted a thread full of naked dudes.
This was unacceptable.
Like, Totally.

[Chambers2]

Me, We

[Poncey]

This thread is not worthy of a sticky. Just my 2c.

conan

Agreed. Unless someone can convince me....

[EddieShredder]

This thread is not worthy of a sticky. Just my 2c.

conan

Agreed. Unless someone can convince me....

Thirded.

[glittermonkey]

This thread is not worthy of a sticky. Just my 2c.

conan

Agreed. Unless someone can convince me....

Poetry is the language of the soul, says crazy woman
I say delete the fornicator
Delete

[BoxBuzz]

Our Poncey (the one recently hitched)

insists poetry here must be pitched

he shows panache" and the culture

of the buzzard or vulture.....

His diminutive grooming

would give Shakespeare a brooming

ahhh.yes......I feel now, I have properly bitched

[Prediction...Pain]

Datsue posted this. Fvcking brilliant.


The Mexican Fighters

watching the boxing matches from Mexico
on tv while sitting in bed
on a cool November evening.
had a great day at the track, picking 7
of 9, two of them long shots.
no matter, I am watching the fighters
work hard now, showing more courage than
style
as in the front row two fat men talk to
each other,
paying no attention to the
boxers
who are fighting for their very existence
as human beings.
sitting in bed here, I feel sad for
everybody, for all the struggling people
everywhere, trying to get the rent paid on time,
trying to get enough food, trying to get
an easy night's sleep.
it's all very wearing and it doesn't stop until you
die.
what a circus, what a show, what a
farce
from the Roman Empire to the French-
Indian War, and from there to here!

now, one of the Mexican boys has
floored the other.
the crowd is screaming.
the boy is up at 9.
he nods to the referee that he is
ready to go again.
the fighters rush together.
even the fat men in the front row are
excited now.
the red gloves fiercely punch the air and the
faces and the hard brown
bodies.

then
the boy is down again.
he is flat on his back.
it’s over.

the god-damned thing is over.

for that boy, there is no knowing where he is
going now.
for the other boy, it’s going to be good for
a little while.
he smiles in tune with the
world.

I flick off the tv.

after a moment I hear gunshots off somewhere in the
distance.
the contest of life continues.

I get up, walk to the window.
I feel disturbed, I mean about
people and things, the way of
things.

then I’m sitting back on the bed, with many
feelings passing through me that I can’t quite
comprehend.

the I force myself to stop thinking.
some questions don’t have answers.

what the hell, I had 7 for 9 at the track today, that’s something
even in the midst of a lot of
nothing.

what you do is take whatever luck comes your way and pretend
you know more than you ever
will.

right?


- Charles Bukowksi

[Prediction...Pain]

8)
The coolest of the cool.
A shining beacon of truth.
The leadoff hitter.
Gets the game going.
Stays calm under pressure.
Knows the score.
Knows how to get the job done.
Will stand strong in the face of butchering.
He stands alone but is never alone.
He is not afraid.
There is only one.

[Prediction...Pain]

:x
Bollocks.

[bollox]

That's Bukowski for you.

Some of his poetry is terrible though.

Bukowski wasn't a poet as such but he ended up with the poet label. Apparently in his younger days he used to write poetry. Then he ended up in hospital because of his serious drinking and when he came out and started writing again it came out as prose. I'd call his stuff simply....writing

Barfly...great movie. Dark, sad and hilarious all at the same time Plus Leon Spinks gets a mention in the film

[JDC]

Gil Scott-Heron

''Lyrics to On Coming From A Broken Home (pt.1)'' :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_VJrFZPTIo

I want to make this a special tribute,
To a family that contradicts the concepts,
Heard the rules but wouldn't accept,
And women-folk raised me and I was full grown,
before I realised I came from a broken home.

Sent to live with my grandma down south,
When my uncles was leaving,
And my grandfather had just left for heaven they said,
And as every-ologist would certainly note,
I had no strong male figure right?

But lily Scott was absolutely not,
Your mail order, room service, type cast, black grandmother,
I was moved in with her; temporarily,
Just until things were patched,
'Til this was patched and that was patched
Until I became at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
The patch that held lily Scott who held me,
And like them 4, I became one more,
And I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones,
And we was holdin' on,
I come from a broken home

She had more than the five senses,
She knew more than books could teach,
And raised everyone she touched just a little bit higher,
And all around her there was a natural sense,
As though she sensed what the stars say, what the birds say,
What the wind and the clouds say,
A sensual soul and self; that African sense.

And she raised me like she raised 4 of her own,
And I was hurt and scared and shocked,
When lily Scott left suddenly one night,
And they sent a limousine from heaven to take her to god, if there is one,
So I knew she had gone,
And I came from a broken home.

"On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 2)"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLLWmatz ... re=related

And so my life has been guided
All the love I needed was provided
And through my mothers sacrifices I saw where her life went
To give more than birth to me, but life to me
And this ain’t one of the clichés about black women being strong
Cause hell if you’re weak, you’re gone
But life courage determined to do more than just survive
And too many homes have a missing woman or man
Without the feeling of missing love
Maybe they are homes that are hurt
But they are no real lives that hurt without reach
But not broken
Unless the homes of soldiers – stationed overseas
Or lost in battles or broken
Unless the homes of firemen, policemen, construction workers,
seamen, railroad men, truckers, pilots
Who lost their lives – but not what their lives stood for...
Because men die, men lose, they are lost and they leave
And so do women ...
I came from what they called "a broken home"
But they ever really called it "a house"
They would have known how wrong they were
We were working on our lives and our homes
Dealing with what we had, not what we didn’t have
My life has been guided by women
But because of them – I am the man.
God bless you mama – and thank you.

One of his final, and IMO greatest piece.