Featured Poems of the Week:
Week of 7/21/24:
NOTE: I WILL BE TRAVELING NEXT WEEKEND, SO THERE WILL BE NO NEW "FEATURED POEMS OF THE WEEK" UNTIL THE WEEK STARTING 8/4.
A FEW NOTES:
Recently I wrote about grammatical issues with lyrics to some pretty well-known songs, HERE and HERE. That called to mind another issue people often experience with songs, and that is misheard lyrics -- like when Elton John sings "Hold me close, Tiny Dancer," but people hear "Hold me close, Tony Danza."
Taylor Swift's lyric, "Got a long list of ex-lovers," was misheard so frequently (about "Starbucks lovers") that the singer actually poked fun at her own song on Valentine's Day in 2015. In a now-deleted tweet, she wrote: "Sending my love to all the lonely Starbucks lovers out there this Valentine's Day… even though that is not the correct lyric." To which the coffee chain playfully replied: "Wait, it's not?"
Anyway, topic his called to mind Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem about misheard lyrics, "I goof the words to every song," so that is one of our Featured Poems of the Week this week. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to pen her poem, "I found the words to every thought," our other Featured Poem.
Recently I wrote about grammatical issues with lyrics to some pretty well-known songs, HERE and HERE. That called to mind another issue people often experience with songs, and that is misheard lyrics -- like when Elton John sings "Hold me close, Tiny Dancer," but people hear "Hold me close, Tony Danza."
Taylor Swift's lyric, "Got a long list of ex-lovers," was misheard so frequently (about "Starbucks lovers") that the singer actually poked fun at her own song on Valentine's Day in 2015. In a now-deleted tweet, she wrote: "Sending my love to all the lonely Starbucks lovers out there this Valentine's Day… even though that is not the correct lyric." To which the coffee chain playfully replied: "Wait, it's not?"
Anyway, topic his called to mind Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem about misheard lyrics, "I goof the words to every song," so that is one of our Featured Poems of the Week this week. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to pen her poem, "I found the words to every thought," our other Featured Poem.
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
I goof the words to every song-- I always try—but Err The lyric’s “Secret Agent Man” [1] But “Seasick Asian Man” I hear. I listen – close – to ascertain-- How does the song – take flight? For though a bad Moon’s on the rise— [2] There’s a bathroom-- on the Right. [1] Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man” [2] From Creedence Clearwater Revivals’ “Bad Moon Rising” |
By Emily Dickinson:
I found the words to every thought I ever had — but One -- And that — defies me -- As a Hand did try to chalk the Sun To Races — nurtured in the Dark -- How would your own — begin? Can Blaze be shown in Cochineal -- Or Noon — in Mazarin? |
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Dickinson data, trivia, and poetry by clicking HERE.
Dickinson data, trivia, and poetry by clicking HERE.
Last Week's Featured Poems of the Week:
A FEW NOTES:
Back when Melon Husk took over Twitter and allowed for the proliferation of hate speech and misinformation, I deleted my account. Now I post every now and then on Threads, but mainly on Counter Social, a much saner and responsible platform.
Since Memorial Day Weekend, the "unofficial" start to summer, I've been posting on Counter Social a list of my Top 100 Classical Music Favorites so that everyone can enjoy a CLASSIC SUMMER. The works aren't ranked in any way, they're just 100 of my favorites, and yesterday I reached number 50 -- the halfway point to "summer" (the "summer" from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend).
(I know my teacher friends don't want to hear that! LOL -- but the truth of the matter is that in many school districts, they are already beyond the halfway point. For example, in my area, new teachers report to work on August 5th (just three weeks away), and experienced teachers report on the 12th).
Anyway, since we're halfway through summer (the "unofficial" summer, that is), I've posted Emily Dickinson's poem "Consulting summer's clock" as one of our Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson was inspired to pen that poem after reading her third cousin Emmett Lee's poem "Consulting the office clock," our other Featured Poem.
Back when Melon Husk took over Twitter and allowed for the proliferation of hate speech and misinformation, I deleted my account. Now I post every now and then on Threads, but mainly on Counter Social, a much saner and responsible platform.
Since Memorial Day Weekend, the "unofficial" start to summer, I've been posting on Counter Social a list of my Top 100 Classical Music Favorites so that everyone can enjoy a CLASSIC SUMMER. The works aren't ranked in any way, they're just 100 of my favorites, and yesterday I reached number 50 -- the halfway point to "summer" (the "summer" from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend).
(I know my teacher friends don't want to hear that! LOL -- but the truth of the matter is that in many school districts, they are already beyond the halfway point. For example, in my area, new teachers report to work on August 5th (just three weeks away), and experienced teachers report on the 12th).
Anyway, since we're halfway through summer (the "unofficial" summer, that is), I've posted Emily Dickinson's poem "Consulting summer's clock" as one of our Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson was inspired to pen that poem after reading her third cousin Emmett Lee's poem "Consulting the office clock," our other Featured Poem.
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Consulting the office clock But half my break remains. I ascertain it with a shock-- I shall not look again. The second cup of joe Is colder than the first. The work I do not dare to know Will end much needed rest. |
By Emily Dickinson:
Consulting summer’s clock, But half the hours remain. I ascertain it with a shock-- I shall not look again. The second half of joy Is shorter than the first. The truth I do not dare to know I muffle with a jest. |
Oh, by the way, in case you are interested -- the first half of my Top 100 Classical Music Favorites list is shown below:
Previous Week's Featured Poems of the Week:
Week of 7/7/24:
In mid-June, we went on a trip to New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore; details are HERE. We got home on June 16th, and since that time, we've been experiencing a heat wave -- and we still have four days to go in the 90s and low 100s, then a two-day reprieve (in the 80s), and then additional days in the 90s.
Climate change, amirite? Or are you in denial? LOL. American and world oligarchs are working hard with politicians to ensure nothing is done in response -- and they definitely prey upon the poorly educated and feeble-minded sheep who re-bleat their message.
In response to the 3-wwek heat wave with well-above normal temperatures, I have posted two of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poems on climate change, "Remembering a Climate" and "Me, change? Me, alter?" as some of our Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson's poems inspired third cousin to pen her poems "Conjecturing a Climate" and "Me, change! Me, alter!" our other Featured Poems.
Climate change, amirite? Or are you in denial? LOL. American and world oligarchs are working hard with politicians to ensure nothing is done in response -- and they definitely prey upon the poorly educated and feeble-minded sheep who re-bleat their message.
In response to the 3-wwek heat wave with well-above normal temperatures, I have posted two of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poems on climate change, "Remembering a Climate" and "Me, change? Me, alter?" as some of our Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson's poems inspired third cousin to pen her poems "Conjecturing a Climate" and "Me, change! Me, alter!" our other Featured Poems.
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Remembering a Climate In never-ending Sun – Adds poignancy to Winter – When all the Seasons are gone So our factitious Planet Is left out in the Cold – Now obviated of Degrees – Soon erased – and Barbequed – |
By Emily Dickinson:
Conjecturing a Climate Of unsuspended Suns – Adds poignancy to Winter – The Shivering Fancy turns To a fictitious Country To palliate a Cold – Not obviated of Degree – Nor erased – of Latitude – |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Me, change? Me, alter? But I can’t, behind the Ever-faster Wheel A Hotter Planet grows – At sunset, with a greater glow Flashing with Radiation – The Earth’s superior close! |
By Emily Dickinson:
Me, change! Me, alter! Then I will, when on the Everlasting Hill A Smaller Purple grows – At sunset, or a lesser glow Flickers upon Cordillera – At Day's superior close! |