'Odyssey' translations I liked

Butcher-Lang (1879)

I liked this translation because it was easy to understand without losing much of the beautiful language. I also liked the way it was set up, not so much as a poem but in paragraphs.

WHD Rouse (1937)

This seemed like a good choice for people reading The Odyssey for the first time, or who might not be too familiar with poetry. It took less analysis than in poem format because it was formed into more of a novel. The imagery remained intact and it was easy to follow.

Richard Lattimore

This was in more of a poem format, which I liked. It flowed nicely and relayed profound images. The introduction is clear; even though it deals with a lot of events in only a few lines it does so without turning into a massive run-on, which usually makes me lose focus. I think the test of any poem is whether or not the reader can picture the action. Not only can I picture the events being described, I can also envision the actual story being told aloud, because it flows so nicely.

Imagery Ideas

At this point, I think the poem on my blog with the strongest imagery is "Death in the Suburbs" by Adrian Henri.

Some Images that Grab Me:
-Sunlight thrown like a blanket
-Stone Ravens
-tasteful cooing of doves
-tiny snowstorms of cherryblossom
-a blurred polaroid
-lawns flung like carpets
-pre-packaged meals
-posters of che guevara
-cries of children/circling like seagulls
-the solitary picnicker
-the last pink petal

The way the author describes suburban perfection is precise and beautiful, but at the same time a little haunting. It feels so empty, which is ironic because most people think of a suburb as being cozy and warm. Equally picturesque in a way are the images of the end of the world.

Some More Good Poems

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=5686

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=1674

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=461

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=5563

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=408

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=111

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=375

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=1513

Bound by marriage, embraced by abuse

Bride of quietness,
child of silence,
Those unheard are sweeter,
more endeared.
Though canst not grieve,
though thou hast not thy bliss
Play on, fair youth,
thy song cannot fade.
Forever wilt thou love.
Never canst thou leave!
More happy love!
(Forever breathing sorrow)
More happy, happy love!
(Forever panting, burning)
Sacrifice thy peace
Or silent be for evermore
And ne’er return.
Fair attitude trodden
By thy marble man
And by eternity.
In midst of silent woe
Truth doth tease you
But wasted beauty is all you know.


Thanks, Keatsy!

Shakespeare's "My Mistress's Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun"

Allen mentioned this poem in class on Tuesday as Shakespeare's "satire" of sonnets. I studied this poem briefly in my high school creative writing class, and immediately took to it, mostly because it is so different from the typical romantic sonnet.

"A Flying Song" by Adrian Mitchell

I really enjoy the use of repetition in this poem. The repeated lines emphasize each stanza and string the entire piece together. Reading this makes me contemplate life and each aspect of it, and I like the fact that the poem is so open to different readers' interpretations.

"Autumn Gift" by Valerie Bloom

Reading Allen's blog made me think of fall, as it is inevitably upon us. Luckily we still have a few nice days left, like this morning. This poem about the September sunshine is a perfect fit for days like today. Hopefully it will stick around for as long as possible!

"For Me" by Ian McMillan

I like poems about poetry and writing. They are some of my favorite to read and also to write. This one makes me laugh, as it would any writer or lover of poetry who is just plain tired of people saying "If it doesn't rhyme, it's not really a poem." Any English teacher or frustrated student could easily quote this poem in rebuttal to those closed-minded individuals.

One more

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=98

I am glued to this poem. Whether or not I can turn that into a paragraph is debatable.
First off, I love this poem because it forces me to think about something I am familiar with from a completely different perspective. I think that's one sign of a truly successful poem, when it shakes the reader out of his or her comfort zone or extends his or her way of thinking. The image of the siren has always been one of impossible beauty and power. This naturally led me to assume that the siren basked in her power. This poem completely reverses my assumption. Here the siren is chained to her throne of seduction, a prisoner of her own song. One of the things that makes this poem so effective is the language. I love the way the poet shifts from somewhat angelic, gentle terms like "picturesque and mythical" to abrasive language such as "squatting on this island" and "these two feathery maniacs." The harsh tones only draw the reader further away from the stereotype of the siren. This poem changed my entire point of view, and I like the new one much better.

More Poems

"Death in the Suburbs" by Adrian Henri
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=5896

-I especially enjoyed the vivid imagery in this poem. The first stanza knocks me off of my feet, especially the line "sunlight thrown like a blanket / over pink and white vistas." For those of you looking for a quick read, I don't advise this poem. However, it is ultimately satisfying and worth the work.

"In the Theatre" by Dannie Abse
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=72

-I'll admit, I first checked out this poem because I am a theatre person and the title drew me in. Even after I realized the poem's actual subject, the title remained one of my favorite parts. I think "In the Theatre" is entirely appropriate, because of all the falsehood and deceit that occurs in the poem. Or perhaps it's not deceit, but more like pretending as a way to avoid more suffering. Either way, this poem is completely harrowing and I love it.

"On Edges" by Adrienne Rich
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=430

-My favorite part about this poem is the stanza about piecing things back together.

"Gift of Words" by Peter Dale
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=141


I'm really sorry I can't post any actual links...it must be a hassle for everyone but for some reason blogger is not enabling the links.

Billy Collins

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=6481

Charles Bukowski

http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/charles_bukowski/poems/12978

Galway Kinnell

The imagery is what first draws me into this poem. It's easy to visualize the entire scenario in perfect detail because the writing is so descriptive. The setting is established early on so I'm immediately involved in the poem. I like poems that include emotions I can relate to. I can feel the exhaustion the young boy is experiencing. I also like that the scene is relatively simple. The image of a tired young boy being soothed by the simple pleasures of evening is relatable and the writer can add detail without making the piece overly elaborate. Finally, I like this poem because of the message of serenity through music. Being a music lover, I feel especially connected with this piece.

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=5557

Welcome to my blog!

I'm Meghan. I'm eighteen and from Fruitport. My hobbies are theatre, music, reading and writing. In high school, I was president of a writers' group called Imagery, and we published a student magazine called Escape which has been ranked "Superior" in the state of Michigan. Right now I'm a Spanish Education major at WMU.