January 2011
14 posts
goodbye, so long.
Guys. Tumblr just doesn’t cut it for a full-time blog. It’s lovely for a bit of fun and I’ll be back for the gems I find here, but I’m going back to wordpress.
I know all this to-ing and fro-ing is a pain in the neck, but, well, I’ve never been the most decisive person in the world.
Come and see me at sisters & sparrows, wordpress style.
Danish Dance Theatre
Yesterday, on the spur of the moment, I got a bargain student ticket to see the Danish Dance Theatre (£5 instead of £20 - win). I happened to get put in the best seat in the house, third row, middle seat - my eyes were level with the dancer’s navels basically, and they were only a few feet from me. I could hear every breath they made. They did three pieces; Enigma, CaDance, and...
black swan
Most terrifying film - at a couple of points I contemplated walking out of the theatre; it was just too much suspense. It’s an absolutely horrific portrayal of mental breakdown… and quite utterly beautiful.
Go here and then pluck up your courage and go see the film.
a Poem for your Sunday
{more of the wonderful work of Paul de Luna}
Variation on a Theme by Rilke
A certain day became a presence to me;
there it was, confronting me--a sky, air, light:
a being. And before it started to descend
from the height of noon, it leaned over
and struck my shoulder as if with
the flat of a sword, granting me
honor and a task. The day's blow
rang out, metallic--or it was I, a...
I heart Tennyson
{beautiful photographs by Paul de Luna who is inspiring me like mad and you will definitely be seeing more of… via Coco+Kelley}
So,The Lady of Shalott.
I had the best seminar ever on this poem, and on Mariana, yesterday. My word, Tennyson was a genius. It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Tennyson. Red in tooth and claw? Also Tennyson. He is...
resolutions
Ever since New Year I’ve been trying to think of the right resolutions for me. I don’t want to have, as ever, the old ‘get thin’ although I am determined to get a bit fitter this term, mostly for the sake of my mood. No, I want something a bit more meaningful, that can become not just a resolution for this year but for the rest of my life as well. My sister told me one...
SANDWICH
from the cute blog tomywife:
I make this for very few people in my life, including you.
Pan toasted and buttered Italian Bread
Prosciutto, Turkey or Ham (your preference)
Avocado
Cheddar Cheese
Fried Egg
Er, YES PLEASE.
a first draft of a poem
In the style of Robert Frost, particularly his poems in North of Boston.
A couple of words of explanation/warning. This is autobiographical and describes a moment that was shocking for me because it was so rare. It is about my parents, who are ordinarily extraordinarily tolerant and loving toward each other. Also, I’m not yet completely happy with the poem, I find it sort of clunky and...
myelephantine-deactivated201104 asked: You recommended me. :)
Just wanted to say thank you and that I hope that you're doing well.
Hugs,
-C.
Just wanted to say thank you and that I hope that you're doing well.
Hugs,
-C.
The Waves of Breffny
by Eva Gore-Booth
The grand road from the mountain goes shining to the sea, And there is traffic on it and many a horse and cart, But the little roads of Cloonagh are dearer far to me And the little roads of Cloonagh go rambling through my heart. A great storm from the ocean goes shouting o’er the hill, And there is glory in it; and terror on the wind: But...
December 2010
36 posts
Anonymous asked: Dear Fran,
I have a poetry related question that I thought you might be able to help with. See, I'm actually poorly right now and talking a lot of nonsense, and sometimes I say words that I would like to mean something but they already mean something else. For example... I would quite like the word "laser" to mean someone who is lazy but unfortunately it...
I have a poetry related question that I thought you might be able to help with. See, I'm actually poorly right now and talking a lot of nonsense, and sometimes I say words that I would like to mean something but they already mean something else. For example... I would quite like the word "laser" to mean someone who is lazy but unfortunately it...
[Sufjan Stevens | Chicago] + [Coldplay |...
Bluebird
by Charles Bukowski
there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I’m too tough for him, I say, stay in there, I’m not going to let anybody see you.
Cirque d’Hiver
by Elizabeth Bishop
Across the floor flits the mechanical toy, fit for a king of several centuries back. A little circus horse with real white hair. His eyes are glossy black. He bears a little dancer on his back. She stands upon her toes and turns and turns. A slanting spray of artificial roses is stitched across her skirt and tinsel bodice. Above her head she poses...
3 tags
WatchAh… this is excellent. Iceland. Poetry. The sea.
Just look at these pretty books!
swansongs for poetry
This is a long poem. But. Well worth a bit of time/effort. Something to ponder as you prepare for your warm, shiny Christmas.
Twelve Days of Christmas
by Carol Ann Duffy
1 ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, a buzzard on a branch. In Afghanistan, no partridge, pear tree; but my true love sent to me a card from home. I sat alone, crouched in yellow dust, and traced the grins of my kids...
3 tags
Birds by Frieda Hughes
A follow-up post on Ted Hughes - this is a poem by Frieda Hughes, his and Sylvia Plath’s daughter… I have to admit to being utterly fascinated by the whole family.
Flip-top with brain At the beak back. Mouth so wide open Houses would disappear. Continents cringe, curl their toes And hang on to their oceans. Maw with a jaw as wide As whatever enters. Small mice, Large cats, or...
Wind by Ted Hughes
This house has been far out at sea all night, The woods crashing through darkness, the booming hills, Winds stampeding the fields under the window Floundering black astride and blinding wet Till day rose; then under an orange sky The hills had new places, and wind wielded Blade-light, luminous black and emerald, Flexing like the lens of a mad eye. At noon I scaled along the house-side as far...
layers of information...
I am talking to my friend about Wikileaks. We are informed students and talk about these things all the time (actually mostly we gossip and talk about books).
I just went on Wikileaks. Now I feel like a spy! I think Julian Assange’s life is probably in danger. Brave guy. Foolhardy? Maybe. He’s almost certainly gone too far, too, but I think what he’s doing is, for the...
lastofthegreatromantics asked: welcome the addictive world of tumblr fran!
“I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live...”
– C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair (via 500daysofkissingmypillow)
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4 tags
being bookish
Hello folks! Hello! Today I’m feeling quite chirpy for no reason really. I’ll make the most of it and put all this cheeriness into a super cool ultra post today - about books! Ready?
So personally this holiday I am going to be reading lots of poetry and criticism books, which are all quite time-consuming and intellectually tough. But I have an essay to do which I want to...