Wednesday 17 June 2009

I nearly forgot Poetry Wednesday.....again.

I never seem to travel through London Heathrow airport without this poem by Christopher Logue coming to mind.

London Airport
Christopher Logue

Last night in London Airport
I saw a wooden bin
labelled UNWANTED LITERATURE
IS TO BE PLACED HEREIN.
So I wrote a poem
and popped it in.

Logue contends that 'poetry cannot be defined, only experienced', and this short poem seems to illustrate his view. Did he write a poem of unrequited love, regret, sadness, desperation, good bye - or all or none of these things ?

Such a privately experienced poem, rather dated by the grandiose label on the wooden bin, but powerful nevertheless.

Any thoughts class?....smiling.

6 comments:

  1. A rather sad little poem really I think Michael.
    Can't say I have heard of the poet - yet the more you read it the more there is in it I think.
    I do enjoy leaving a comment watched over by that black labrador.

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  2. Would it be unjust to label this a 'ditty'.

    He experienced it - I like it! And I know that I will now never be able to pass a bin at any airport without thinking of this!

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  3. It truly is sad to think that many think of poetry as unwanted literature.

    Yes, short and powerful piece. I like it. A lot.

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  4. Course you know I already linked in your Clerihews. I could not pass that up. And Bee even submitted one for the tour. You get the blame or the credit.

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  5. I really like the bin label, Michael! So proper, so British! Sad, if he really did think poetry is unwanted. Saw a BBC4 prog last night on "your" poetry please. Very enjoyable.

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  6. this made me smile

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