Has anyone tried/made use of this poetryblogs.org site? After coming across it, I was considering signing up, but only if people have had good experiences with it…
This one is a little doggerel for the Poetic Asides’ poetic form prompt. I’ve not done a quatern, as far as I’m aware, but this moment happened yesterday on my way to work, and I just wanted to incorporate it into something. A good news crier is hard to find these days, but Penn Station still has the chops.
Extra, Extra
Crying, “Post! Times! Journal, and more!”
he perches before the station.
And shakes greasy hair, lifts gloved hands,
repeating his invocation.
No matter your taste, he keeps on
crying “Post! Times! Journal, and more!”
Different angles for everyone,
points of view peddled by the score.
First for photos, second for news,
the last for suits to read on trains.
Crying, “Post! Times! Journal, and more!”
he counts up his curb-gotten gains.
When the dollars deplete his stash,
he drifts towards the wide station door.
Vox pop prophet, shaved clean of words,
crying, “Post! Times! Journal!” no more.
A repetitive form that I found difficult in English, but I’ve written a few in French – not surprising since the form was originally French. Yours is perfection. Does your newsvendor shout in clear? The London ones used to have a kind of code, garbled from the titles they were selling.
Love your refrain.
I was investigating the poetryblogs.org a couple of days ago. I’m not sure what about it put me off, but I decided to hang back and see if others try it, or have tried it.
Joseph,
this site has put me in its list without me asking for it. it is not the first one and i am not sure any more if that was this one or the other who made me trouble for removing it. for now i gave up. the only things i can say is that people do come from there to my place – though none, as far as i can tell, has ever said anything. on the other hand i have received lately a book for review – i have no clue how did they came up with me – it might be from there.
let me know if you discover something else.