House at Dusk by Edward Hopper |
Half light,
Half night,
Half not all it seems.
Half-hearted,
Half-parted,
Half forgotten dreams.
Half time,
Half rhyme,
Half lit from above.
Half hidden,
Half bidden,
Half remembered love.
Half board,
Half bored,
Half truths left unspoken.
Half life,
Half wife,
Half promises broken.
Half told,
Half tolled,
Half bound by the rules.
Half said,
Half dead,
Two complete fools.
© Marilyn Brindley
© Marilyn Brindley
Taking part in 'The Mag 119' courtesy of Tess at Willow Manor
This picture first suggested John Betjeman's 'Death in Leamington' to me, which may account for the gloomy mood of my offering. It certainly made me think of the death or an ending of a relationship. In any case I think the picture could equally illustrate Betjeman's poem. Here's a reading of that poem from almost forty years ago. Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams lend their wonderful voices to a rendering, observed and approved by the poet himself ,on the 'Parkinson' show (February 1973)
Did I enjoy this? Not half!
ReplyDeleteHow strange that you should include this reading by Kenneth Williams and Maggie Smith. I recorded a later broadcast of the programme, on VHS, later transferred it to DVD, and was watching it with my daughter only a few days ago.
The painting is pretty dark and gives the sense of loneliness too (I thought)
ReplyDeleteReally liked your interpretation of it. The concise lines made it even more effective.
You've captured the mood of the painting. The woman in the window looks wistful or waiting.... Repetition and rhyme work well here.
ReplyDeletewhile you saw it as gloomy, i saw it as mysterious. i chose to avoid the "characters" in the painting, didn't want to get too psychological, guess that's how i avoided the gloom. it was just 1/8 gloomy to me. ;)
ReplyDeleteneither good nor bad
I liike your unusual versing; it has capturd the feeling very well.
ReplyDeleteI love the repeated word...so bold, sad, dark, empty. You nailed the image I saw!
ReplyDeleteI love how you played with the words so brilliantly. It simply sung!
ReplyDeletesounds like the cup is half empty you know....really nice flow created inthe repetition as well...and you really build a mood in this as well...
ReplyDeleteThe repetition and cadence of your poem brings everything to life and makes it sparkle! I love it!! You have captured the spirit of the painting so cleverly. Beautiful, Little Nell. Thank you for sharing. =D
ReplyDeleteLoved how you wrote this!!!
ReplyDeletediscontent
How wonderful this is! Love it!
ReplyDeleteOh I really liked what you did with this piece! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery clever and creative!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect accomplishment..selfish me, I wish I'd written this!
ReplyDeleteMany moods captured in one mood! I like the way you make us think in many directions at once!
ReplyDeletesplendid- you nailed this all the way-not half way.
ReplyDeleteExcellent interpretation. Sadness, regret and bitterness - lets hope this poem doesn't ring true for too many readers!
ReplyDeleteLucy x
this poem was mad dark fun, little nell.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like this 50/50.....I loved it 100%..!! And the Betjeman reading was delightful! Nice to listen to Kenneth in a nursey tale that didn't need the words..."ooooh, Matron!"
ReplyDeleteThis was utterly brilliant! I enjoyed every syllable! (I'm talking about YOUR words, not theirs, but will listen to them now. Kenneth Williams? Hoot!)
ReplyDeleteVery clever!
ReplyDeleteWell, you didn't do things by half! LOL Great Mag. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nell, this is so way cool. Poetry that I can understand ... both yours and the one in the video. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
Sounds a lot like the real thing! Great take. Love Smith/Williams - couldn't have been a better choice.
ReplyDelete