Author Archives: revdrejt1832

“being too happy in thy happiness”

Without doubt the poem Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats (1795-1821) is a classic. There are just too many great lines to count, it might be easier to number the not so good lines of the total of 80 that make up the poem. Keats writes from a drowsy numbness as if he hadContinue reading ““being too happy in thy happiness””

“Could Have”

Random happenings we often call coincidences. No rhyme or reason it just happened. Trying to fill a prescription becomes evermore complicated because there is a person with the same full name and the same date of birth already in the system! Having just flown into London and catching a train to Edinburgh when walking throughContinue reading ““Could Have””

“I took my mind a walk”

Following on from Robert Burns I thought I would stay in Scotland. Jumping from the mid 1700s to the mid 1900s to find Norman MacCaig. He divided his time living 6 months in Edinburgh then six months in Assynt, Sutherland – a most beautiful county in the far north of Scotland with a west coast,Continue reading ““I took my mind a walk””

For a’ that

January 25th is celebrated in Scotland as Burns’ Night, when the famous poet Robert Burns is fondly remembered and Haggis consumed, with an evening of toasts, foods and dancing. Burns’ Suppers are enjoyed throughout the world and as is so often the case those who follow such traditions more closely are those who no longerContinue reading “For a’ that”

Crossing The Bar

Looking towards Freshwater Bay from Tennyson Down Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was the fourth of 12 children. Their father Reverend George Tennyson, tutored his children in classical and modern languages. Home life was difficult, their father suffering frequent mental breakdowns and alcoholism. Alfred though escaped the troubles of home when he was admitted to TrinityContinue reading “Crossing The Bar”

“A Flame Within Us”

We who live in the Midwest, and south of Chicago, have so far had only a small fall of snow to contend with unlike so many other others close to the great lakes and Buffalo in particular. However, winter has not yet run its course! Edward Hirsch in his book Poet’s Choice in just 400Continue reading ““A Flame Within Us””

Coffee Houses

Yesterday evening I was turning the pages of Simon Armitage’s book of selected poems 1989-2014 titled Paper Aeroplane. On reading the poem To the Women of the Merrie England Coffee Houses, Huddersfield, I immediately recalled a piece of prose I shared almost two years ago from Mike McCormack’s novel Solar Bones. I will share bothContinue reading “Coffee Houses”