Lucy Crispin – Page 5 – lucy crispin, poet

just beautiful

Apr 22, 2021 #awe, #beauty, #being alive, #being human, #Cynthia Zarin, #everyday, #sorrow, #wonder, #Zarin by Lucy Crispin

Sometimes there’s a clear, specific reason why I want to share a poem, usually to do with whichever bees are currently buzzing round my bonnet. This one, though, I wanted to share simply because I find it beautiful and accurate. Here is Cynthia Zarin’s ‘Flowers‘.

poetry appreciation

making the most of it

Apr 15, 2021 #acceptance, #affection, #ageing, #gratitude, #happiness, #kindness, #laughter, #McNair, #tenderness, #warmth, #Wesley McNair by Lucy Crispin

This week’s poem brought a soft smile to my face. It has a delightful quality of warmth and tenderness, and is such a good reminder of making the most of what we have—not in a Brownie-Guide Come on, girls, no moping! style, but in a much more palatable, seeing what is, not just what isn’t sort of a way. Enjoy ‘Happiness‘ by Wesley McNair.

events, poetry appreciation, publications

getting about a bit

Apr 13, 2021 #Guest posts, #Nigel Kent, #shades of blue by Lucy Crispin

Gosh, more stuff on the interweb: I’m writing a guest post for fellow-poet Nigel Kent, who is also going to review shades of blue. Nigel will shortly be a guest columnist here for us. I know he’s going to be introducing a poet new-to-me, so I very much look forward to that.
In the meantime, my piece will be up on the 17th April, and will look at one a poem from shades of blue and how it relates to my work in general. I’ll be saying the kind of stuff I’d normally have been saying at readings over the last year as I introduced the book. It’s nice to have a chance to do that. Go to Nigel’s site on the 17th to read my post.

events, news

poetry reading

Apr 12, 2021 #homestage, #meet the poet, #Oz Hardwick, #poetry reading, #reading, #shades of blue by Lucy Crispin

Yes! An actual event happening (albeit online). I’m sharing an evening on Homestage with Oz Hardwick, who’s also published by Hedgehog press: a one-hour meet-the-poet and hear some work read live. It’s on Tuesday 13th April 8-9pm GST, and you can come to the event simply by clicking here. It would be lovely to have you join us!

poetry appreciation

carpe while you can

Apr 8, 2021 #beauty, #carpe diem, #Gerard Manley Hopkins, #Herrick, #Hopkins, #Robert Herrick, #spring, #to daffodils, #transience by Lucy Crispin

For some reason, the only line I can remember from my first-term-at-Cambridge, deeply-uncomprehending reading of Gawain and the Green Knight is the line ‘Þe snawe snitered ful snart’. The snow snitered a bit this week (though not full snart) out of a beautiful blue sky; very odd and April-ish. We’ve also had some days, though, where ‘that blue has been all in a rush with richness’, so I thought today we could enjoy Hopkins’ lovely hymn to spring (have it read to you here. Poem starts at 1.19):

poetry appreciation

if only…

Apr 1, 2021 #bargaining, #blame, #control, #doubt, #fear, #grief, #Jennifer Maier, #Maier, #post hoc, #post hoc ergo propter hoc, #regret, #self-blame, #self-criticism, #the road not taken, #what if by Lucy Crispin

Apologies for radio silence over the last 2 weeks; I’ve not been well. I’m glad to be back, not least because this week’s poem is a relatively new discovery (to me) and I’ve been looking forward to sharing it. Some part of me deeply recognises the states and thoughts described in Jennifer Maier’s ‘Post Hoc‘ by Jennifer Maier. How about you?

poetry appreciation

the tyranny of shoulds

I’ve been searching the interweb for a poem called ‘Delivery’ by Marie Howe, and can’t find it anywhere (if anyone has more luck, do please let me know). The search was not wasted, though, because I’ve discovered more of her poetry, and today I’ve got ‘The Moment‘ for you to… well… take a moment (sorry) to read.

poetry appreciation

the importance of boiled eggs

Mar 4, 2021 #Baron Wormser, #boiled eggs, #ceremony, #chaos, #easy, #eggs, #noise, #order, #peace, #quiet, #ritual, #simple, #telegrams and anger, #Wormser by Lucy Crispin

Lots of things are simple but not easy. Today’s poem makes this point, and in such a delightful way it makes me smile. Have a go at ‘A Quiet Life‘ by Baron Wormser—Garrison will read if you like (at about 2.27)—and see if it makes you smile too.

poetry appreciation

how things change

Feb 25, 2021 #change, #Denise Levertov, #growing, #hope, #hopeful, #Levertov, #mutuality, #peace, #possibility, #responsibility, #shared, #sharing, #society by Lucy Crispin

I seem to be a bit preoccupied with responsibility at the moment, and once again I’m sharing a poem which concerns it: Denise Levertov’s consideration of how we might go about ‘Making Peace‘. (You can have it read to you here.)

poetry appreciation

the wheel of fortune

I just love it when a poem from another time or place “reaches” me: suddenly I’m in relationship with someone from another age or culture, often someone whose bones are long since turned to dust. Ain’t that something? Last week a poetry magazine I read had Robert Southall’s* ‘Times go by Turns‘ printed under the Editorial, and I had just that experience of remote connection: I felt less alone—comforted by being accompanied, by seeing what is common and constant in human experience. See if the poem does it for you, too.

Author: Lucy Crispin