tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post1574750942393003883..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: Poem in Your Pocket Day: Philip Larkin's 'Mr. Bleaney'Jim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-11955877261127174882008-05-19T11:39:00.000+01:002008-05-19T11:39:00.000+01:00Thanks for the comment, sunt_lacrimae_rerum, and y...Thanks for the comment, <B>sunt_lacrimae_rerum</B>, and you're quite right. The problem I find it that so many people can't identify good poetry anymore. They start with preconceptions and that's a bad place to start.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-42459219535860178542008-05-19T04:51:00.000+01:002008-05-19T04:51:00.000+01:00Thank you for posting that! What a wonderful post...Thank you for posting that! What a wonderful post.<BR/><BR/>I read Larkin and have his collected poems. Aside from "Aubade" I deeply love "An Arundal Tomb," "Church Going", "MCMXIV," "At Grass" and others. I even managed to transform a "science report" (as an undergraduate" into an analysis of "Myxamatosis." <BR/><BR/>I am sad that so few people read good poetry. I love the idea of "Poem in Your Pocket Day". Unfortunately I live someplace where the only thing like that which would fly would be "golf ball in your pocket".sunt_lacrimae_rerumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05659053841051896981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-30092808330325530522008-04-29T20:04:00.000+01:002008-04-29T20:04:00.000+01:00Thanks, Tommaso - my work is done.Thanks, Tommaso - my work is done.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-50605668290915763752008-04-29T19:33:00.000+01:002008-04-29T19:33:00.000+01:00Dear Jim, I have just read "Mr. Bleaney" thank you...Dear Jim, I have just read "Mr. Bleaney" thank you for pointing this poem out to me. I will read and re-read it many times, it has got its own flavour and strength I feel I want to relish. <BR/>As I wrote in an older post in my blog I have re-discovered Larkin very recently and quite by chance.<BR/>I am really enjoying his work now for the first time. <BR/>"Thaw" and "Coming" are two among his poems which for now I like most.<BR/>Best wishes, DavideTommaso Gervasuttihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17137499390434949734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-73572673725274395282008-04-22T10:04:00.000+01:002008-04-22T10:04:00.000+01:00Anonymous - Wikipedia now acknowledged.Anonymous - Wikipedia now acknowledged.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-83351455496578435382008-04-22T07:07:00.000+01:002008-04-22T07:07:00.000+01:00I like the stuff you took word for word from the W...I like the stuff you took word for word from the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Bleaney" REL="nofollow">Wikipedia article</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-42028442882922059042008-04-21T19:47:00.000+01:002008-04-21T19:47:00.000+01:00Thanks for that Dave - I do my best. I see from yo...Thanks for that <B>Dave</B> - I do my best. I see from your site you have an interest in comics. You might find my reminiscences about Superman of interest in a recent blog: <A HREF="http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.com/2008/04/thunder-storms-blinding-lights-and.html" REL="nofollow">Thunder storms, blinding lights and soggy toast</A>. I have a lot of time for comics even though I don't collect any more. I reference them often in my posts.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-48751397327741855762008-04-21T19:03:00.000+01:002008-04-21T19:03:00.000+01:00Wow, it's clear in 10 seconds you're a writer that...Wow, it's clear in 10 seconds you're a writer that blogs instead of a blogger trying to write.<BR/>Dave from WelcomeBackRosenthal.com-https://www.blogger.com/profile/17718399514854462683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-5321135792418055702008-04-20T13:42:00.000+01:002008-04-20T13:42:00.000+01:00Dave, yes, that's exactly how the poem hit me, it ...<B>Dave</B>, yes, that's exactly how the poem hit me, it stopped me in my tracks, like none of his others.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-16448168525188155472008-04-20T06:38:00.000+01:002008-04-20T06:38:00.000+01:00Thanks for the great post, 'Mr Bleaney' is one of ...Thanks for the great post, 'Mr Bleaney' is one of my favourite Larkin poems. I only came across him a couple of years ago when I bought his 'collected poems'. There are other poems of his that seem to me more noticably brilliant, but this is the poem that just stopped me dead in my tracks. Thanks for the audio link too, it certainly added to my enjoyment of the poem.<BR/><BR/>After reading the Clive James quote I'll have to pull my copy out and go through the last stanzas to all his poems now!<BR/><BR/>cheers,<BR/>DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-87286114329747935082008-04-19T20:22:00.000+01:002008-04-19T20:22:00.000+01:00Thanks for that, Rachel. I actually thought my e-m...Thanks for that, <B>Rachel</B>. I actually thought my e-mail address was viewable under my profile. It is now.<BR/><BR/><B>Ken</B>, always nice to see you. Really glad to be able to introduce you to 'Mr. Bleaney'.<BR/><BR/><B>Fiendish</B>, very well put. I know exactly what you mean – "words like a condiment" – great.<BR/><BR/><B>Michael</B>, thanks for dropping by. I'm glad to be able to point you in the right direction. It's amazing what one can do with plain ordinary words with a bit of care.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-49659385146045207472008-04-19T19:52:00.000+01:002008-04-19T19:52:00.000+01:00Thanks for the post about "Mr. Bleaney." I only kn...Thanks for the post about "Mr. Bleaney." I only know Larkin from "This Be the Verse," but now I'm inspired to explore his work further.Michael Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04933093277999231529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-26985330497652721322008-04-19T19:12:00.000+01:002008-04-19T19:12:00.000+01:00I had a similar experience with Larkin, if not qui...I had a similar experience with Larkin, if not quite so eye-opening.<BR/><BR/>I always liked poetry - reading and writing it. I devoured anthologies just because, always favouring short-form free verse. Then one afternoon we did "The Whitsun Weddings" in English class.<BR/><BR/>Some poets use words like a condiment, scattering them liberally over a poem and drowing out the meaning. Larkin uses language as an instrument, beautiful in its own right and useful as a tool of ideas. Definitely my favourite poem and poet.Fiendishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427088675092430747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-6916533080374219032008-04-19T12:34:00.000+01:002008-04-19T12:34:00.000+01:00I took some time-well-spent with 'Mr. Bleaney' on ...I took some time-well-spent with 'Mr. Bleaney' on your post.<BR/><BR/>I didn't know it before, thanks for posting it.<BR/><BR/>"...and shivered, without shaking off the dread<BR/><BR/>That how we live measures our own nature"Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-65775472433114002932008-04-19T10:23:00.000+01:002008-04-19T10:23:00.000+01:00Hey Jim!I did my Larkin post this morning. If I co...Hey Jim!<BR/>I did my Larkin post this morning. If I could find an email address on your page I would email you but I can't so I'm telling you in this more public way. You can delete this once you've read it...no really , go on...Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-76950884461281669892008-04-19T00:26:00.000+01:002008-04-19T00:26:00.000+01:00Thanks for that, Dick. The one thing I don't think...Thanks for that, Dick. The one thing I don't think I really managed to get across was just how much that poem hit me the first time. It really was the, "I don't know," at the end. At that age all I had were questions.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-84149037624469051892008-04-18T22:22:00.000+01:002008-04-18T22:22:00.000+01:00An excellent post, Jim, extrapolating from the won...An excellent post, Jim, extrapolating from the wonderful 'Mr Bleaney' into Larkin-land and then returning to the poem. Thanks for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-51063580920561417812008-04-18T10:12:00.000+01:002008-04-18T10:12:00.000+01:00You're very welcome, Maryanne,You're very welcome, Maryanne,Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-56035561217071506712008-04-18T04:08:00.000+01:002008-04-18T04:08:00.000+01:00Love Larkin. Thanks for this.Love Larkin. Thanks for this.Maryanne Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12461617567840191096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-84765861815472203392008-04-17T19:55:00.000+01:002008-04-17T19:55:00.000+01:00Rajan, thanks for dropping by. I always aim to del...Rajan, thanks for dropping by. I always aim to delight or at least entertain and amuse.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-61228185478851293282008-04-17T15:42:00.000+01:002008-04-17T15:42:00.000+01:00Hi,Thanks for Larkin's poem.I have been a fan of B...Hi,<BR/>Thanks for Larkin's poem.<BR/>I have been a fan of Beckette, Ted Hughes, and Larkin. It was so pleasant to come across a poem that like very much.Thanks for the moment of delight when I read you. Thanks.<BR/>Rajan.C M RAJANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02829528196572695673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-925290676492031352008-04-17T14:42:00.000+01:002008-04-17T14:42:00.000+01:00I've never bashed a haggis but I do have ginger-he...I've never bashed a haggis but I do have ginger-headed offspring. Maybe that's why I feel so at home...Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-11344911430125493142008-04-17T14:10:00.000+01:002008-04-17T14:10:00.000+01:00We Scots are very proud of our heritage but it's m...We Scots are very proud of our heritage but it's more for the rest of the world particularly the Americans who refer to the UK as 'England' and think Scotland is this village near Newcastle full of the bagpipe-playing, whiskey-quaffing, haggis-bashing, kilted, ginger-headed offspring of a boatload of Vikings.<BR/><BR/>And the other comment was on a completely differed post. I got mixed up.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-10444671520559649402008-04-17T13:25:00.000+01:002008-04-17T13:25:00.000+01:00Ah yes, the English/British question...I used Engl...Ah yes, the English/British question...I used English on purpose because in the 6 years I've been in Scotland I've heard Scottish poets very definitely referred to as Scottish so often that it then seems odd to call English poets just British...but it is complicated. Which would Larkin have preferred?<BR/>Also some Scottish people may do the uptight-prejudiced routine too but it is a slightly different version. I wouldn't dare to suggest who does it better!<BR/><BR/>I can't see the other comment you refer to on this post. Has it slipped off or is it just me?Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-9647116287582722362008-04-17T13:09:00.000+01:002008-04-17T13:09:00.000+01:00Thanks for your kind comment, Julia. It's always n...Thanks for your kind comment, <B>Julia</B>. It's always nice to see a new name in the comments. I had a look at Teilhard de Chardin's books on Amazon and he looks interesting but not my cup of tea; perhaps he might appeal to some of my other readers though, you never know.<BR/><BR/>And, <B>Rachel</B>, lots of interesting stuff here. I did see the Stephen Fry interview with Pamela Connolly and enjoyed it a lot. I know I slagged him off a while back but, even when I disagree with him, he's someone I never tire listening too, a bit like the late Kenneth Williams although clearly more comfortable with his sexuality. <BR/><BR/>I tend to avoid using words like 'English' in my posts – I generally use British – but there is a quality to Larkin's work that is precisely that.<BR/><BR/>Please feel free to blog about Larkin. I only did an overview. You obviously have your own personal attachment to his work so a different perspective would be interesting. I barely scratched the surface.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.com