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Littlestone 5386 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 09:27
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It's been suggested elsewhere* that this thread is a place for wittering and one dimensional love-ins. I'm sad that the person who made those comments thinks as he does because it seems a great injustice to the many people who have contributed to Megalithic Poems over a period of one and a half years (and who I believe have both given to, and taken from, the thread some pleasure). It is an even greater injustice, of course, to the poets themselves - poets of the stature of Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes, as well as lesser poets, who have put pen to paper on a theme so dear to our hearts. The Past: Megalithic Poems didn't actually start on TMA, it started on the Stones Mailing List a couple of years ago under the banner of Megalithic Poetry. I can't remember now where the idea came from or what the first poem was, but someone remarked back then that there probably wouldn't be many poems out there on a megalithic theme to collate - I tended to think likewise. We were both proved wrong. What has really surprised me is just how many poems there are about megaliths, the range of feelings they encompass and the time-span they cover. The Present: I don't own this thread, it is the offspring of all who have contributed to it, and as far as I know it is unique. If anyone owns it TMA does, and they can pull the plug on it anytime. If I could edit it I would, and the first thing I'd do would be to provide sub-headings so poems and poets could be found more easily. I tend not to comment too much on a poem someone sends in because, to be honest, I'm not qualified to do so. I always try to thank people who do contribute, however, and where possible encourage budding poets to continue writing. The Future: When Megalithic Poems first started on the Stones List I said something along the lines that if there was enough material out there it might one day lead to a book. I also made it clear that if a book did materialise I wasn't in it for personal reward and anything that the book did make would go towards a worthy heritage cause. At that time I didn't know about blogs so when I set up the Megalithic Poems blog it was an opportunity to experiment with illustrations to accompany the poems (a good many of those illustrations come from people who contribute to TMA and I'm constantly amazed by the generosity of those people in allowing their illustrations to be used). In other words, the blog is halfway between this thread and a book. Every time I think right, now is the time to get things going on the book, someone pops up with even more poems (thanks chris s, for your latest contributions) and I decide to let things run for a while longer. There are three other people who have expressed an interest in collaborating on producing a book on Megalithic Poems and when contributions finally do dry up I'll be calling on them to help out with pulling everything together - there's a lot of checking and editing to be done ;-) Meanwhile, I hope the TMA eds will allow this thread to run for a while longer and thank them for their patience so far. LS * http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/forum/?thread=36634&message=449054 http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/forum/?thread=36634&message=449075
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TMA Ed 615 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 10:39
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As has been suggested, it might be useful to have the titles/poets as part of the post headings. When I have a moment I will try to change any that are not clear. TMA Ed.
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Littlestone 5386 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 10:59
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TMA Ed wrote: As has been suggested, it might be useful to have the titles/poets as part of the post headings. When I have a moment I will try to change any that are not clear. TMA Ed. Thanks.
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chris s 211 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 13:13
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Cheers, didn't know bout that !!
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chris s 211 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 13:32
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Hear, hear....tis surely part of the all encompassing interest, ce n'est pas? In answer to your question, Mr. Littlestone, guess I do have a notebook full of'em....only recently back online, noticed this thread and it whetted my curiosity, given that I moved back to Cornwall this year, have an English Lit degree, a penchant for poking round in local studies libraries and am a megalithophile......obviously there's plenty of poets and writers down here who've written at length on the subject, since dear ol' Borlase.... Further ideas for research: - Not strictly a megalith, but there's a Ted Hughes poem by the name of "Great Bride Stones", referring to the tor above Todmorden, Yorks, certainly part of the megalithic landscape.... - I'd be really surprised if the Swindon born Victorian agrarian writer Richard Jeffries hadn't penned someting about Wayland Smithy &c. Almost everything by him is out of print....anyone Wiltshire based fancy a lil' research? - And howsabout other Yorkshire/Lakeland poets? Anything from Wordworth, De Quincey, Southey, Simon Armitage &c? - Those with a more modern psychogeographical edge may want to consult the works of Iain Sinclair & Brian Catling Me? I'm off to dive into another dusty old tome...happy hunting! Chris
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chris s 211 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 13:51
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We sought Grey Wethers Stone Circle Stumbling across the dry yellow bents Of autumn Along ancent trackways Meandering all over the place Linking one valley and another One group of trees and new plantings. At last, we reached open moorland Bare, windswept, no landmarks, No tors, no churches, no sun To give us bearings. A compass point showed due west And we walked towards where the sun Should set in the evening hills. Climbing upwards we reached a ridge - Still few features, still no sense Of purpose. We stumbled on,over rough tussocks Which hampered progress And long, tangled grasses Which tripped clumsy steps. Downward through marshes Which shivered under our feet - The water oozed and gurgled The land unstable. We leapt across, feet wet, legs aching, Lungs bursting, and above us On the hillside, there were grey stones, Still, dark, stone sheep, grey wethers, Fixed forever, granite beasts At home in the landscape. Why had we made the journey? To take photographs? To sense the indefinable past? Who knows? But four New Age Travellers - Bright clothes, gold earrings, eager smiles, Passed us On their pilgrimage.
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whatisthat 255 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 16:13
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Littlestone wrote: It is an even greater injustice, of course, to the poets themselves - poets of the stature of Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes, as well as lesser poets, who have put pen to paper on a theme so dear to our hearts. Complete and utter rubbish. How do you come to this conclusion? My posts were about your self indulgent topic which in my opinion exists solely to promote your minority interest agenda, your blog and yourself, not the poetry or the poets.
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chris s 211 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 16:56
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Wow !! Teasy !!
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chris s 211 posts |
Oct 09, 2006, 16:56
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Wow !! Teasy !!
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TMA Ed 615 posts |
Edited Oct 09, 2006, 17:18
Oct 09, 2006, 17:17
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It would seem that since you joined our community you have done two things. These are:
A while back it was the homepage that wasn't to your liking, now it's a couple of harmless threads that are easy to ignore if you don't like them. Thanks TMA Ed
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