poems you connected with

sevensins

what poems/songs have you connected with on a deep level, or been inspired by?

Smashing Pumpkins- Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Pearl Jam- Jeremy = this song got me to think of lyrics seriocly

setaside2

Surprisingly, it's always been novelists who have affected me.

what, that shouldn't surprise anyone with the WORDINESS that I appear to bring...

JD Salinger. Still writing, only not for you and me. Yes, I love Holden but I love his sister Phoebe even more and I love his character Teddy in Nine Stories the most.

Ken Kesey- specifically One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Powerful Stuff.

Jack Kerouac - On the Road changed my life

Stephen King - So did The Stand, which is still one of the most Human stories ever written

Franz Kafka - You name it, it was incredible. The Penal Colony is extraordinary.

Neil Gaiman - My modern era HERO. This man needs to be venerated. Anything in the Sandman series or Murder Mysteries or either American Gods or Neverwhere.

Ray Bradbury - Still the master of science fiction to me. Fahrenheit 451 is required reading for anyone I know. This means all of YOU. Also, an excellent primer into his short stories: Golden Apples of the Sun. Let's not forget Halloween Tree... Death is a Lonely Business... Martian Chronicles.. Illustrated Man... and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

C.S. Lewis - His Chronicles of Narnia are incredible and I read all 7 at least 4 times a year.

and of course JRR Tolkien - I wonder why.

I could go on all freaking day. LOL. There are many more but I guess this will do. LOL.

sevensins

and of course JRR Tolkien - I wonder why.

why?

coleen

NEIL GAIMAN!!!! WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!

I have to admit, I found Neil first as a novelist with Neverwhere but I haven't read The Sandman yet. i know, *hangs head low* the shame. Good Omens is another GREAT one that he wrote with Terry Pratchett, its a comedy about the apocolypse.

He is brilliant and I don't know why more people aren't raving about him. Ever check out his website? its an interesting place, if you haven't.

setaside2

coleen, I have been a Gaiman fan since the very beginning of sandman... I even have the first comic! LOL I almost have all the Sandman series, there are only 75 comics plus a special in the technical series, though I understand that he is creating a new Sandman series now. It's been difficult to find all 75 of the series though I am missing only about 16 or 17.

And yes, Good Omens is a must read as well. Listen to coleen everyone!

seven: The "wonder why" was rhetorical LOL. I of course mean the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Hobbit. I don't see how anyone could read those books and come away unimpressed or unaffected.

sevensins

i know, its just that rhetorical questions bother me so i refuse to exeped them.

coleen

setaside

i think the new sandman series is called "endless nights" but don't take that as gospel. a friend had suggested that i check out Sandman when it started, but damned fool that i am, i remembered the recommendation but just never followed it up.

i'm sure its got to be nearly impossible to get the original comics now, but i've heard that there are graphic novels made for bookstores - do you think they'd be faithful to the original or would it be better to try to find the comics?

he's also involved in a few movie projects one with henson studios (two of my all time favorites working together) that should be released next summer i believe and the original Neverwhere BBC series was just released on dvd in august. its kind of kitchy and has a doctor who production quality to it, but its really entertaining...that is if you like that sort of thing, which i do.

setaside2

Coleen

If you are wondering whether or not I like that kind of kitchy production let's just say that while I never got to see many episodes, Red Dwarf was awesome and I've been a Python fan for many years... so production values don't bother me as long as the stuff is good. I have heard that the acting in the Neverwhere BBC release wasn't exactly stellar but I'm still willing to take a look at it....

The graphic novels for the Sandman series are indeed fatithful to the originals.

if you can, pick up the one with Midsummer Night's Dream in it and also the Graphic novel called The Doll's House. Those are my personal favorites in the early Sandman stuff from the early 90's. The whole series is still some of the top fiction I have ever read. Period

Also, if you can find it, there was another Gaiman piece done for DC Comics at the same time called the Children's Crusade which comprises of only 2 books but is worth your time... let's see... I believe he also did the original Black Orchid limited series.... which was INCREDIBLE. Check it out.

Which project is he working with Henson Studios on??? That must be awesome. I have to admit there is one, okay TWO other projects out that are exciting me...

1.) The Chronicles of Narnia have been licensed and they are making 5 count em FIVE movies... if they are anything of the production values that LoTR had, they will be MIND BLOWING. And they do have WETA workshop working on them as we speak. YEEE HAAAA...

2.) The Hobbit is rumored to be starting cinematography so that is also quite exciting. I cannot wait.

I have blabbed enough for this 10 minutes. I'll release you to your daily life.

coleen

Setaside

Neverwhere is entertaining for its production value (not so great acting included - thats probably why i consider it to be very doctor who-esque) but I assure you that it is NO Monty Python. So maybe its best then if you skip that one. I have read on his website that Henson now owns Neverwhere (dare i hope?)

Like most kids I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Muppet Show but also loved The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (David Bowie AND Jim Henson puppets) but I also loved a less memorable endeavor of Henson Studios - The Storyteller - which was their "answer" to Steven Spielbergs Amazing Stories television series. It was short lived but I never missed an episode.

Straight from Neil's website - "2004 will see the release of Mirror Mask, a film written by Neil Gaiman and directed by Dave McKean for the Jim Henson company and Columbia Tristar." Gaiman says that while people describe his book Coraline as a contemporary to Alice in Wonderland that it isn't but rather Mirror Mask is. Seriously if you ever have a chance to stroll over there he does an almost daily blog full of Gaiman's wit, humor, and also a lot of great information about his work as well as other amazing writers, comics, films, etc. The message board also has a section where people post their own writing which is usually pretty interesting and may also be up your alley.

I plan to get everyone of the Sandman graphic novels now that I can be sure they are faithful to the comics, is it important to read them in order? And thank you ever so much for the recommenation on the other comics.

I hadn't heard about the Chronicles of Narnia - now I have one more thing to look forward to. Did you happen to catch the BBC production of it about 10 or so years ago? Much better than Neverwhere to be sure but probably not even close to whats in store for us now.

Excited about the Hobit as well but I have won the babbling title for the morning (probably why i hardly post because i can't say good morning in 1,000 words or less) ;P

Thanks again for the information and its wonderful to finally "know" someone else that as is excited about Neil Gaiman as I am.

sevensins

ok lets get this thread back on to songs or poems that inspired you.

coleen

my most sincere apologies sevensins.

setaside2

you know technically we were talking about writers who had inspired us. SO THERE. FINE.

I'm NOT sorry, mark, you can deal with it. hee hee.

Coleen is much more polite and well mannered than I'll ever be.

sevensins

just think of a song or poem use your own if you want to i realy dont care

sevensins

gunna try this again. SONG or POEM you connected with.

lifeisworth

i could post a ton of joni mitchell lyrics...

this one struck me first:

THE PRIEST

The priest sat in the airport bar
He was wearing his father's tie
And his eyes looked into my eyes so far
Whenever the words ran dry
Behind the lash and the circles blue
He looked as only a priest can, thru
And his eyes said me and his eyes said you
And my eyes said, let us try

He said, "You wouldn't like it here
No it's no place you should share
The roof is ripped with hurricanes
And the room is always bare
I need the wind and I seek the cold"
He reached post the wine for my hand to hold
And he saw me young and he saw me old
And he saw me sitting there

Then he took his contradictions out
And he splashed them on my brow
So which words was I then to doubt
When choosing what to vow
Should I choose them all-should I make them mine
The sermons, the hymns and the valentines
And he asked for truth and he asked for time
And he asked for only now
Now the trials are trumpet scored
Oh will we pass the test
Or just as one loves more and more
Will one love less and less
Oh come let's run from this ring we're in
Where the Christians clap and the Germans grin
Saying let them lose, crying let them win
Oh make them both confess

lifeisworth

and this is among my most favorite poems


Porphyria's Lover
The rain set early in tonight,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down hy my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me -- she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavor,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me forever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could tonight's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last l knew
Porphyria worshiped me: surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While l debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string l wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
l am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
l warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And l untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
l propped her head up as before,
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And l, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!

sevensins

good choices


Nirvana
"DRAIN YOU"

One bady to another says. I'm lucky to have met you.
I don't care what you think unless. It is about me.
It is now my duty to completely drain you.
A travel through a tube and end up in your infection.
Chew your meat for you. Pass it back and forth.
In a passionate kiss. From my mouth to yours. 'cause I like you.
With eyes so dilated. I've became your pupil.
You've taught me everything. Without a poison apple.
The water is so yellow. I'm a healthy student.
Indebted and so grateful. Vacuum out the fluids.
Chew your meat for you. Pass it back and forth.
In a passionate kiss. From my mouth to yours.
'cause I like you. You! You! You! You! You!
One bady to another says. I'm lucky to have met you.
I don't care what you think unless. It is about me.
It is now my duty to completely drain you.
A travel through a tube and end up in your infection.
Chew your meat for you. Pass it back and forth.
In a passionate kiss. From my mouth to yours. 'cause I like you.

sevensins

Pink Floyd
"Time"
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say

BhagavadGita

Where Do The Children Play

by Cat Stevens

Well I think it's fine building jumbo planes
or taking a ride on a cosmic train, switch on
summer from a slot machine, yes get what you
want to , if you want cause you can get anything

I know we've come a long way, we're changing day to day
but tell me where do the children play

Well you roll on roads, over fresh green grass,
for your lorry loads pumping petrol gas, and you
make them long and you make them tough, but they
just go on and on, and it seems you can't get off

I know we've come a long way, we're changing day to day
but tell me where do the children play

Well you cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air,
but will you keep on building higher til there's
no more room up there. Will you make us laugh,
will you make us cry, will you tell us when to live
will you tell us when to die.

I know we've come a long way, we're changing day to day
but tell me where do the children play

Sound

Cara Estranho - Los Hermanos

setaside2

I'd have to say that PJ's Black and Garden really affected me in my high school years.

Also, Toad the Wet Sprocket's Amnesia, which is still my favorite song ever.

Overkill, as done by Colin Hay of Men At Work.. his acoustic version gives me chills.

Anything by Cat Power or the Sundays.

Beth Gibbons and Portishead know how to inject their music with a certain dark hope...

The movie "Kafka" with Jeremy Irons.

I will post lyrics later, but I thought I'd get this stuff out now. I plan on coming back to this post many times now that I know the RULES.

Mark you dictator you.