A short while ago, I do not recall when, I heard some lines from Robert Frost's poem "Stopping By Woods on A Snow Evening" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171621. I do not remember the context I heard these lines, but I recall thinking that the context was a little incongruent with Frost's poem. I do know it was a commercial venture of some sort.
Tonight, I heard another Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173536. I paid attention this time. Two Robert Frost poems used for incongruent commercial advertising. The advertisement using the "The Road Not Taken" was a gloom and doom, doomsday type movie advertisement. Way out of context for Robert Frost.
So, what is it about Robert Frost's poetry that all of a sudden has made it so popular. And so badly used?
I am a traditionalist when it comes to poetry. I want it used in the context it was meant. Which, if you read Robert Frost, his poems are bucolic and idyllic. Not the commercial, violent context as portrayed tonight. How does this happen?
And yet, would he say that maybe his words can be used to challenge?
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Friday, December 2, 2011
Favorite Poems
I just finished reading the book A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. In it, some favorite poems of some of the characters were quoted. They were two of my favorite poems ( I have many favorite poems.) Quoted were lines from The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Sir Walter Scott http://scott-minstrel.cath.vt.edu/select.php?select=Canto.VI and from High Flight by John Gillespie Magee.
This is one of a series of murder mysteries, and in other volumes, other poetry is quoted. This time the chief inspector quotes these poems, and one of the deceased characters is attributed to quote The Lay of the Last Minstrel.
The deceased character who quoted poetry to his children loved his children dearly, but somehow, the family became dysfunctional. That happens.
My father quoted and misquoted poetry to us. I loved it. And, through the years, I quote and misquote poetry to myself. Poetry keeps me company. I am so blessed that my father instilled in me the love of poetry.
This is one of a series of murder mysteries, and in other volumes, other poetry is quoted. This time the chief inspector quotes these poems, and one of the deceased characters is attributed to quote The Lay of the Last Minstrel.
The deceased character who quoted poetry to his children loved his children dearly, but somehow, the family became dysfunctional. That happens.
My father quoted and misquoted poetry to us. I loved it. And, through the years, I quote and misquote poetry to myself. Poetry keeps me company. I am so blessed that my father instilled in me the love of poetry.
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