H05054 HARDY POEMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 7/13/05 - HARDY FORUM ARCHIVES ____________________________________________________________________________
From: patrick@prassociates.co.uk
Subject: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 6:09:01 AM PDT
We have our 12-year old grand-daughter Jessica staying with us for a while.
She enjoys poetry and I try to read her something I think she would like
each evening - yesterday it was 'Lucy Grey' by Wm. Wordsworth which went
down well.
I would be interested in any recommendations from Thomas Hardy's poetical
works from subscribers. Provided there are not too many I will, in due
course and if they are interesting, post Jessica's reaction to the various
suggestions.
Patrick Roper
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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk
Subject: RE: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 6:33:17 AM PDT
The Oxen, Patrick, I think it is one of the most childlike poems ever
written, such trust and faith. Beautiful!
Jacky
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From: harrybatt@mn.rr.com
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 7:05:59 AM PDT
Poe's "The Bells" has that cadence that children seem to
like. I tutored a small group of enriched readers 8 and 9 this past year
and used "The Bells" to encourage reading with expression..
John Bridell,
Mineapolis.
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From: hardycor@owl.csusm.edu
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 7:14:07 AM PDT
Patrick I think "Snow in the Suburbs" would be a good choice. You might
even try "During Wind and Rain" which is more thought-provoking but
beautiful. Then, of course, there are the children's poems attributed to
Hardy in 2002 which originally accompanied books by Florence Hardy.
Admittedly they are written for children younger than your granddaughter,
but I still find them most appealing in my dotage. A number of them appear
in *The Hardy Review* Vol. V, 2002.
Our granddaughter was with us for her seventh birthday last weekend. I
wish you as much pleasure with yours as we had with ours.
Betty
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From: wwmorgan@ilstu.edu
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 9:31:25 AM PDT
Hello, Patrick,
I think "Wagtail and Baby" would be a good choice.
Have fun.
Bill
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 3:29:11 PM PDT
Hmmmm 12 years old? My grandaughter-turning-teen enjoyed "The Trampwoman's Tragedy" and read it over many times trying to figure out her reader response to the trampwoman. She also enjoyed the "history"poems -- "Sergeant's Song" et al. "The Ruined Maid " might also go down well given the parallels of (relative) "badness" in socio-sexual mores which early teens never seem to stop talking about (girls, not boys) , and if she's into designer clothes (as is one of my grandaughters) she might find the fashion touches amusing.
Cheers.
Rosemarie
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 3:34:15 PM PDT
PS -- Patrick do tell me which poems you'll try? Then I'll have my Scottish grandaughter (also 12) read them while she's staying here with me. We can compare notes!
Cheers,
Rosemarie
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From: wwmorgan@ilstu.edu
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 4:14:53 PM PDT
Well, if daring sexual attitudes is your theme, try "The Dark-Eyed Gentleman." (But would a 12-year old know what a garter is?)
Bill
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From: fsiedow@omniglobal.net
Subject: Re: Poems for young people
Date: July 13, 2005 10:29:25 PM PDT
Hi, Patrick: I like LAST WORDS TO A DUMB FRIEND, and AT THE ROMAN GRAVEMOUNDS, which are both kinda sad, tho, and SNOW IN THE SUBURBS (at Upper Tooting, 1870/71), and the one about the FALLOW DEER looking in thru the front door windows, and the one about writing at midnight, and insects come onto his papers as if to visit him. There's also one about an old Grandfather Clock, ticking away in another room, late at night.( Maybe that's the one he copied into the clock when he was a teenager)
AH, ARE YOU DIGGING ON MY GRAVE may be suitable - kinda gives a chuckle.
Hope those help a little! Fred S.
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From: patrick@prassociates.co.uk
Subject: RE: Poems for young people
Date: July 14, 2005 6:32:54 AM PDT
Okay Rosemary, you're on.
Patrick
PS -- Patrick do tell me which poems you'll try? Then I'll have my
Scottish grandaughter (also 12) read them while she's staying
here with me.
We can compare notes!
Cheers,,
Rosemarie
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