By Thomas Lux
The above, the punishment, the mild
but just punishment, symbolic,
the great advancement our planet
most needs.
The procedure is painless,
using methods currently available
only in cartoons. Polls were taken,
it was voted upon overwhelmingly in favor.
The justness of it,
known in the bone
by each of our nation - is undeniable. Thus, it is proclaimed,
on this day of anno domino, etc, I, the final arbiter
and ultimate enforcer
of such things (appointed by the king!), make official
and binding, this: that the eyes shall be gouged out
and replaced by hot coals
in the head, the blockhead,
of each countryman or woman who,
upon reaching their majority,
has yet to read
Moby Dick, by Mr. Herman Melville (1819-1891), American novelist
and poet.
Comments : One reason I liked this poem and wanted to run it was that it mentions Herman Melville and his famous novel and it has that in common with this poem run a few days ago.
The second reason to run this poem is that it expresses my feelings about those like former Haryana DGP S.P.S. Rathore who misuse positions of power to torment others.
- Zen
About the poet : Thomas Lux was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1946. He is the Bourne Professor of Poetry at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His most recent book is The Cradle Place.
Lux writes, "I think of 'Eyes Scooped Put And Replaced By Hot Coals' as an audience participation poem, i.e. readers may replace the book mentioned in the poem with a beloved book of their choice."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Must be Santa
Who's got a beard
That's long and white?
Santa's got a beard
That's long and white
Who comes around
On a special night?
Santa comes around
On a special night
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Who wears boots
And a suit of red?
Santa wears boots
And a suit of red
Who wears a long cap
On his head?
Santa wears a long cap
On his head
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Who's got a big red
Cherry nose?
Santa's got a big red
Cherry nose
Who laughs this way
Ho, ho, ho?
Santa laughs this way
Ho, ho, ho
Ho, ho, ho
Cherry nose
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Who very soon
Will come our way?
Santa very soon
Will come our way
Eight little reindeer
Pull his sleigh
Santa's little reindeer
Pull his sleigh
Reindeer sleigh
Come our way
Ho, ho, ho
Cherry nose
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Dasher, Dancer
Prancer, Vixen
Comet, Cupid
Donner
And Blitzen
Reindeer sleigh
Come our way
Ho, ho, ho
Cherry nose
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Links to the youtube video of the song :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVs6X9yIM_k and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTgqnXae2LQ
Comments :
Yes, I know, it isn’t much of a poem, but it’s the day after Christmas and Bob Dylan has sung the latest version of this song.
The first time I caught this version of the song on vh1 I loved it – it has a lively beat that makes you want to get up and dance immediately, the video shows a rollicking rambunctious Christmas party going on, there’s Santa bobbing about somewhere and it’s everything you’d think a jolly Christmas song should be. Except that it’s been sung by Bob Dylan – which is so unexpected that one gapes at the TV screen in shock as the credits roll.
The first thing I thought of was the movie ‘Love Actually’ and the ageing rockstar singing a mushy Christmas song. But then my faith in Dylan (and his cynicism) made me check the lyrics online, hoping that he had changed the lyrics in some manner. But apparently he has not; however, all of Dylan’s royalties from the album benefit Feeding America and other international charities. So I guess that explains the upbeat all-is-well-with-the-world song.
Anyway, since it is the end of the year, and the time to celebrate, go check out the video on youtube, buy the album, and if you discover a twist in the lyrics, let me know. - Zen
Links for reviews of the song :
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/16/premiere-bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-from-christmas-lp/
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/11/18/bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-the-hairs-fake-but-the-dancings-real/
http://outtheother.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/xmas-radio-bob-dylan-must-be-santa.html
That's long and white?
Santa's got a beard
That's long and white
Who comes around
On a special night?
Santa comes around
On a special night
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Who wears boots
And a suit of red?
Santa wears boots
And a suit of red
Who wears a long cap
On his head?
Santa wears a long cap
On his head
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Who's got a big red
Cherry nose?
Santa's got a big red
Cherry nose
Who laughs this way
Ho, ho, ho?
Santa laughs this way
Ho, ho, ho
Ho, ho, ho
Cherry nose
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Who very soon
Will come our way?
Santa very soon
Will come our way
Eight little reindeer
Pull his sleigh
Santa's little reindeer
Pull his sleigh
Reindeer sleigh
Come our way
Ho, ho, ho
Cherry nose
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Dasher, Dancer
Prancer, Vixen
Comet, Cupid
Donner
And Blitzen
Reindeer sleigh
Come our way
Ho, ho, ho
Cherry nose
Cap on head
Suit that's red
Special night
Beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Santa Claus
Links to the youtube video of the song :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVs6X9yIM_k and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTgqnXae2LQ
Comments :
Yes, I know, it isn’t much of a poem, but it’s the day after Christmas and Bob Dylan has sung the latest version of this song.
The first time I caught this version of the song on vh1 I loved it – it has a lively beat that makes you want to get up and dance immediately, the video shows a rollicking rambunctious Christmas party going on, there’s Santa bobbing about somewhere and it’s everything you’d think a jolly Christmas song should be. Except that it’s been sung by Bob Dylan – which is so unexpected that one gapes at the TV screen in shock as the credits roll.
The first thing I thought of was the movie ‘Love Actually’ and the ageing rockstar singing a mushy Christmas song. But then my faith in Dylan (and his cynicism) made me check the lyrics online, hoping that he had changed the lyrics in some manner. But apparently he has not; however, all of Dylan’s royalties from the album benefit Feeding America and other international charities. So I guess that explains the upbeat all-is-well-with-the-world song.
Anyway, since it is the end of the year, and the time to celebrate, go check out the video on youtube, buy the album, and if you discover a twist in the lyrics, let me know. - Zen
Links for reviews of the song :
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/16/premiere-bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-from-christmas-lp/
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/11/18/bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-the-hairs-fake-but-the-dancings-real/
http://outtheother.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/xmas-radio-bob-dylan-must-be-santa.html
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
To a Greedy Lover
By Norman Cameron
What is this recompense you’d have from me ?
Melville asked no compassion of the sea.
Roll to and fro, forgotten in my wrack,
Love as you please – I owe you nothing back.
Comments : A hilarious poem, I love the way Herman Melville and the sea are woven into this crisp declaration. - Zen
What is this recompense you’d have from me ?
Melville asked no compassion of the sea.
Roll to and fro, forgotten in my wrack,
Love as you please – I owe you nothing back.
Comments : A hilarious poem, I love the way Herman Melville and the sea are woven into this crisp declaration. - Zen
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Twelve Days of Christmas 2009
By Carol Ann Duffy
Link to the poem here
Comments : This news article mentioned the poem by Carol Ann Duffy. The two lines that the article quoted about Obama were interesting enough to have me click on the link for the poem. Found the poem interesting enough to post here, read it if you want contemorary events sent up and critiqued in the format of an old old poem. - Zen
About the poet :
(from the NY Times) Carol Ann Duffy was named poet laureate of Britain on May 1, 2009, the first time in its 341-year history that the post - held by such poets as Dryden, Tennyson, Wordsworth and Ted Hughes - has gone to a woman.
Ms. Duffy, 53, is known for writing accessible, often witty poems on a wide range of topics, many of them to do with the minutiae of everyday life.
Link to the poem here
Comments : This news article mentioned the poem by Carol Ann Duffy. The two lines that the article quoted about Obama were interesting enough to have me click on the link for the poem. Found the poem interesting enough to post here, read it if you want contemorary events sent up and critiqued in the format of an old old poem. - Zen
About the poet :
(from the NY Times) Carol Ann Duffy was named poet laureate of Britain on May 1, 2009, the first time in its 341-year history that the post - held by such poets as Dryden, Tennyson, Wordsworth and Ted Hughes - has gone to a woman.
Ms. Duffy, 53, is known for writing accessible, often witty poems on a wide range of topics, many of them to do with the minutiae of everyday life.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Children’s Rhymes
By Langston Hughes
By what sends
the white kids
I ain’t sent:
I know I can’t
be President.
What don’t bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain’t free.
Lies written down
for white folks
ain’t for us a-tall:
Liberty and Justice
Huh! – For All ?
Comments : Found this poem in an anthology titled ‘The Black Poets’. Thought it apt to run at a time when an African American president of the U.S.A has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Some things have changed for the better over time ! - Z.
By what sends
the white kids
I ain’t sent:
I know I can’t
be President.
What don’t bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain’t free.
Lies written down
for white folks
ain’t for us a-tall:
Liberty and Justice
Huh! – For All ?
Comments : Found this poem in an anthology titled ‘The Black Poets’. Thought it apt to run at a time when an African American president of the U.S.A has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Some things have changed for the better over time ! - Z.
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