My green age by James Graham - WriteWords.org.uk

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My green age

by James Graham

Posted: 21 October 2014
Word Count: 22
Summary: Option 1. Phrase from 'The force that through the green fuse...'

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My green age:
youth’s restless chirruping
from the snowdrop cage
of the skull Early
winter body’s outrage
against the coming snow

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Bazz at 12:37 on 26 October 2014 Report this post

Hi James, this is very stirring, I love the imagery of

youth’s restless chirruping
from the snowdrop cage
of the skull

a short piece that is full of meaning.

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V`yonne at 17:00 on 26 October 2014 Report this post

I too loved

snowdrop cage
of the skull

It carries the entire thought of not going gentle... within.

I note you used Thomas' habit of making the title a wrap round (or not having a title in other words but were this only 5 it would make a tanka because

of the skull Early

is an excellent pivot.

Read the WriteWords interview with Oonah Joslin (V`yonne)

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crowspark at 21:14 on 27 October 2014 Report this post

A wonderful setting for:

from the snowdrop cage
of the skull

Great image. A very effective poem.

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James Graham at 21:55 on 28 October 2014 Report this post

Thanks Oonah, Bill and Barry for your comments. I was a little surprised to find I had won this – and rather ashamed in a way. Thomas was on the reading list when I was a student many years ago, and I remember at that time being flummoxed by these strange poems that I just couldn’t get my head round. We had two or three lectures on Thomas but I seemed to be none the wiser. Of course, there are things you read in callow youth that you come to understand much better in later life. So I’ve returned to his work from time to time – but it’s one step forward and two back. For the most part I still can’t relate to him. Robert Lowell wrote about him: ‘He is a dazzling obscure writer who can be enjoyed without understanding’. Fair enough. I have to say, though, if lots of poetry readers find he ‘can be enjoyed’, that’s great, but I’ve just never managed to tune in. ‘The force that through the green fuse drives the flower’ kind of gets through.

James.

Read the WriteWords interview with James Graham

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