| Author | Message | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3893 Registered: 12-2004 |
Leviathan A bottlenose whale beaching in the shallow Thames, spewing from blowhole off the Victoria Embankment: all London watches the Leviathan within the Leviathan. Sick disoriented whale, gray flanks barging into barges. Oh Thames of Monet and Whistler! Rocket fire crackers welcoming in the bright new millennium, the city's Eye, the butterfly's dance with Mr. Ruskin, oh suicidal Thames, river fog-shrouded, rolling past Big Ben in Monet rose-gold. Thames, take your dead with you, with mouthfuls of river mud, at the Traitor's Gate to the Tower, Ann Boleyn's oak block, black with blood too the Ripper's streets, oh hurting London, needles in churchyards, meths drunk from brown paper bags. Disoriented whale, distracted humanity, desperate for a way out. Christopher T. George (Message edited by Chrisgeorge on January 22, 2006) Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| michael julius sottak
Advanced Member Username: julius Post Number: 1999 Registered: 12-2003 |
did anyone ever tell you that you are a poet? | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3895 Registered: 12-2004 |
Ha ha, do you really think so?  Thanks, Julius. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| michael julius sottak
Advanced Member Username: julius Post Number: 2003 Registered: 12-2003 |
I told you once before, Chris, that your writing often reminds me of Evelyn Waugh... and I don't think I need to say more | ||
| Carol Sanger
New member Username: carolsang Post Number: 39 Registered: 01-2006 |
You have captured the story as a nautilus, taking the TV story down close to its essence. Better than seeing it on TV. I like the last stanza the best. Thank you Carol | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3898 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi again Julius Well, "more" does rhyme with "Waugh"... Baltimore poet Marion Buchman characterized my poetry to a cross between Robert Browning and Ted Hughes. Although it is true that I like to add a wry or satirical twist that is associated with Waugh's works. Hi Carol Thank you very much for your kind comments. Glad you enjoyed the poem and particularly the last stanza. All my best Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Lazarus
Intermediate Member Username: lazarus Post Number: 883 Registered: 10-2005 |
This has everything Chris- humanity, the moment, consequences. I love Leviathan within the Leviathan and Disoriented whale, distracted humanity, desperate for a way out It's just sad that stories that end badly make good poetry. And the earth, bristling and raw, tiny and lost resumes its search; rushing through the vast astonishment- Ted Hughes, from His Legs Ran About. | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 631 Registered: 08-2004 |
Everything is poetry, Laz! Chris has proof. Well done, Chris! (((smile))) Karen | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3899 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks, Lazarus and Karen. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Emusing
Moderator Username: emusing Post Number: 2546 Registered: 08-2003 |
Whales and society. Whales as society. Deep and wonderful Chris. oh suicidal Thames, river fog-shrouded, rolling past Big Ben in Monet rose-gold. Thames, take your dead with you, with mouthfuls of river mud, These lines piercing to the eyes. I envy your river's history. E | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3903 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thank you, E. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 6422 Registered: 11-1998 |
I did not expect you to take this whale poem here, Chris: "Thames, take your dead with you, with mouthfuls of river mud, at the Traitor's Gate to the Tower, Ann Boleyn's oak block, black with blood too the Ripper's streets, oh hurting London, needles in churchyards, meths drunk from brown paper bags. Disoriented whale, distracted humanity, desperate for a way out." Perfect summation. | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3904 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thank you, M. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Ramis Cizer
New member Username: triganome Post Number: 27 Registered: 01-2006 |
Chris, loved the melancholy feel to this and the way you played with the two meanings of leviathan.. only suggestion is possibly a different title, but I am no critic in the hue of something which will take me years to produce. best, Trig .................................................. A dreamer is one who finds his way by the moonlight. His only punishment is that he see's the dawn before the rest of the world. O.Wilde | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 3908 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks, Trig, for your thoughts on this one. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.com/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ |
