Italian Holiday Poem by Wendy Webb

I’m pleased to say that we have another Folding Mirror poem by Wendy Webb today, which was inspired by taking time out to watch the world go by on an Italian holiday. Wendy is an integral part of the Norfolk Poets, and editor of the Tips for Writers and Etips magazines. Thanks to Wendy for creating the poem and sharing it here.

The Poem

PUNTA DELLA DOGANA

The Chiesa San Maria della Salute stands

a pompous isthmus on the Grande Canal.

Beyond that lantern, proudly, with raised hand,

a boy smiles on the Punta della Dogana.

He holds a wriggling frog – a match for David –

there where the world salutes his mischief/pose.

Salute and smile, then, balancing in Venice

leap ashore, don’t topple the traghetto.

At San Marco Vallaresso – remember – in Harry’s Bar:

leap ashore, don’t topple the traghetto.

Salute and smile, then, balancing in Venice

there where the world salutes his mischief/pose.

He holds a wriggling frog – a match for David –

a boy smiles on the Punta della Dogana.

Beyond that lantern, proudly, with raised hand,

a pompous isthmus on the Grande Canal.

The Chiesa San Maria della Salute stands.

Marc Latham Interview and Poems Published in Etips

Marc Latham has an interview and two poems published in the December issue of etips, which is available for free if you sign up at the Norfolk poets site from the link on the left.

The first poem is an old one with a bipolar theme, while the second is the hiking Hadrian’s Wall poem that has the ‘bipolar’ Folding Mirror format.

Three New Folding Mirror Poems in Etips

There are three new Folding Mirror poems by Marc Latham in the Autumn issue of the etips poetry magazine, which is available from the link.

Wendy Webb also talks of Folding Mirrors appearing across the web, including one from Romania, so that’s great news for the form…and hopefully poetry.

Hope you enjoy them, and I’ll be putting them up here over the next three days too.

Lord Byron in Europe on Channel Four

First part of a two part documentary about the poet Lord Byron in Europe on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm too.

Norman Bissett and Summer’s Peesie

Today we have the second Folding Mirror poem by Norman Bissett from the Tips for Writers Autumn issue, which is available for free from the Norfolk poets and writers.

The poem captures the dive and rise of a peesie (lapwing), which is a common and wonderfully evocative sight in the UK at the moment; and a reassuring sign that summer is still present.

PEESIE

A ragged duster flapping in the gale,
plunging from heaven to earth
in some catastrophe,
its melancholy call a threnody
or dirge of desolation,
a bleak lament,

a peesie rides the surge triumphantly,

proclaiming joy,
its paean of exultation
tossing resistance at the mournful wind
through sheer exuberance,
soaring from earth to heaven,
a battle-standard fluttering in the breeze.

(peesie: Scots = lapwing)

Wendy Webb’s Constitutional Crisis

Today we have another Folding Mirror poem from Wendy Webb, a Norfolk poet, which first appeared in the July 2009 edition of the innovative and highly respected Poetry Monthly International, which is freely available on its website.

It’s great to have a Folding Mirror poem feature in the magazine, and thanks to Wendy for creating it, sharing it and giving me a credit in the magazine.

Thanks also to Wendy for a brave poem discussing the recent politcal expenses crisis, and putting into words how most of the British public feel, and what they would ideally like from their public servants.

The Poem

Constitutional Crisis

Take a good MP
a doctor, who has signed the Hippocratic Oath,
to care for people, give life, serve the common good.
Place him in a position
of power,
where he spends all hours serving his constituents.
Barely able to spend time with his family
enjoying a hobby, the price of houses;
bank scandals, credit crunch, global markets.
Martyr him in column ink, for it is better that

one should be sacrificed for the people.

Martyr him in column ink, for it is better than
bank scandals, credit crunch, global markets,
enjoying a hobby, the price of houses;
barely able to spend time with his family
where he spends all hours serving his constituents.
For power,
places him in a position
to care for people, give life, serve the Commons good.
A doctor, who has signed the Hippocratic Oath.
Take a good MP

———————-
Wendy Webb
United Kingdom

Norman Bissett’s Cross Channel Poem

I am pleased to write that we have another Folding Mirror poem by last year’s Purple Patch Small Press Magazine Poet of the Year Norman Bissett.

It is one of two new Folding Mirror poems by Norman that appear in the autumn edition of etips, which is available from the Norfolk poets blog.

The poem uses the English Channel as the folding middle line, and describes a couple of possible scenarios on either side of the sea: artists at work on French beaches used in the World War Two D-Day landings, and morris dancers taking part in a traditional folk custom above English beaches.

Thanks to Norman for creating and sharing another creative and entertaining Folding Mirror poem in etips and on this site, and Wendy Webb for allowing its re-use here.

The Poem

CROSS CHANNEL

Olive-skinned artists in berets and blue smocks,
sit at their easels on canvas folding-stools
looking north
from Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword
and paint, repeatedly, in oil
the land- and sea-scape,

a strip of beach, a choppy sea, a cloud-filled sky.

This panorama,
is more often unrecorded
in Weymouth, Worthing, Littlehampton, Hythe.
Looking south,
tankards in hand or clacking their morris sticks,
the moon-faced, white-smocked aboriginals dance.

List of Poems on Site Updated

With the Folding Mirror poems from the Tips for Writers summer edition and the Romantic Art set on site I thought it was time to update the list of poems.

This site now contains 43 poetry posts: 42 Folding Mirrors and Jean Knill’s haiku set.

The updated list is here: New Posts on this Site.

Claire Knight’s Grandson’s Gift

Today we round off the Tips for Writers summer edition Folding Mirror poems with the third from Claire Knight.

It was great to see talented poets creating Folding Mirror poems in a top small press poetry and writing magazine, and I hope more poets will try out some FMs in the future.

Grandson’s Gift is a colourful and poignant tale about the beauty of receiving presents from family members.

Thanks to Claire for creating and sharing it, and Wendy Webb of Tips for Writers for allowing its re-use.

GRANDSON’S GIFT by Claire Knight

This morning
he painted me a butterfly,
in bold splodges
of lime green and orange,

and gave it to me with bright eyes and beaming smile.

With lime green and orange,
in bold splodges,
he painted me a butterfly
a beautiful butterfly.

Grand Old Duke of York Poem of Our Age by Norman Bissett and

Today we have the second Folding Mirror poem to appear on this site after first being published in the summer Tips for Writers.

Norman’s first poem, STENDHALISMO, is the most viewed poem on this site, and I hope this second one proves as popular.

The poem reflects the hope of youth in the top half of the poem with the reality of age in the bottom, and this theme is cleverly summed up with a metaphor in the poem title; referring as it does to the old nursery rhyme of the grand old duke of York, who marched his men up the hill and then down again.

Thanks to Norman for creating and sharing his poem, and Wendy Webb for allowing its re-use.

THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF YORK by Norman Bissett

Success is a mountain summit
soliciting rape, begging to be conquered,
awaiting our all-out assault.
The towering peaks soar,
defying and challenging us.
We shall assuredly prevail.
Youth, dynamism, zest and self-belief
are ours in abundance.

With the passing years, spirits droop, limbs become leaden.

Weighed down by an excess
of self-doubt, accidie, sloth, the spiritual torpor of age,
defeat, chap-fallen, confronts us.
Mocking and taunting,
unfathomable depths open before us,
awaiting our total capitulation.
Lusting to be inhabited, soliciting occupation,
failure is a bottomless pit.

Poetry of Morning Nature by Claire Knight

Today, fmpoetry has another wonderful poem by a Norfolk poet that appears in the summer issue of etips.

The poem seems particularly suitable for most of the UK today, as we bask in a gorgeous morning for the fifth day running.

Claire uses her words expertly to create an image of the new day that earlybirds will be able to relate to and enjoy.

Thanks to Claire for creating the poem and Claire and Wendy Webb for allowing it to be used on this site.

Daybreak by Claire Knight

As night’s cloak withdraws
and starlight dims
a glimmer rises in the east:
birds reveal their morning song
and dew glistens on each leaf.

Today the world is new and fresh, so awaken

as dew glistens on each leaf,
birds rise in their morning flight
above a glimmer in the east:
starlight fades away
as night withdraws her cloak.