John Clare in a Paris bar 6
Tuesday, 5 May 2009 11:27:17
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John Clare in a Paris bar 6 |
Tuesday, 5 May 2009 11:27:17 |
I've adapted the ending - extending it and changing some lines.
I love to see the glasses neatly lined The tumblers with their drinking straws in place I love to see the bottles ready and uncorked And tables stained with ancient food and beer I like the waitress leaning half way o'er The long dark bar and where the patron From his hiding place pushes the drapes Aside to issue forth with crepes and cafe noir I love the outside tables where the sign swings Above Parisians with cigarettes and phones Their empty espresso cups a cool excuse to stay
Escaping April breezes, appointments,
To read the sport, the situations vacant: Time out to watch, text, write, to read and play. I think it reads fairly well - but it does have extra resonance if you have Clare's Sonnet in the back of your mind.
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 5
Wednesday, 29 April 2009 16:18:44
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 5 |
Wednesday, 29 April 2009 16:18:44 |
Just a few tweaks here and there. I resisted the temptation to turn it into a sonnet. Though it may still happen...
I love to see the glasses neatly lined The tumblers with their drinking straws in place I love to see the bottles ready and uncorked And tables stained with ancient food and beer I like the waitress leaning half way o'er The long dark bar and where the patron From his hiding place pushes the drapes Aside to issue forth with crepes and cafe noir I love the outside tables where the sign swings out Above Parisians with cigarettes and phones Their empty espresso cups the one excuse to stay And where they watch, text, write, read and play.
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 4
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 12:02:35
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 4 |
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 12:02:35 |
Just to see what I've got so far and how it looks:
I love to see the glasses neatly lined The tumbler with the drinking straws in place I love to see the bottles ready and uncorked And tables stained with ancient food and beer I like the waitress leanng half way o'er The long dark bar and where the patron From his hiding place pushes the drapes Aside to issue forth with crepes and cafe noir I love the outside tables where the sign swings out Over Parisians with mobile phones and cigarettes Their empty espresso cups the one excuse to stay and where they idle, watch, text, write, read and play...
Blimey - it's almost a sonnet!
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 3
Tuesday, 21 April 2009 8:18:10
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 3 |
Tuesday, 21 April 2009 8:18:10 |
I want to bring in something of the cafe exterior - so important to those kinds of places. (Outside Parisians smoke, phone, text, write, read, empty espresso cups, ashtray lighter menu memo pad and pen.)
I love the outside tables where the sign swings out over parisians with mobile phones and cigarettes empty espresso cups their one excuse to stay and where text, write, read, play....????
Away for a few days. Back with some inspiration, I hope.
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 2
Friday, 17 April 2009 14:48:25
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John Clare in a Paris Bar 2 |
Friday, 17 April 2009 14:48:25 |
I love to see the glasses neatly lined The tumbler with the drinking straws in place I love to see the bottles ready and uncorked And tables stained with ancient food and beer I like the waitress leanng half way o'er The long dark bar and where the patron From his hiding place pushes the drapes Aside to issue forth with crepes and cafe noir.
It's really interesting to experience how the presence in the background of one poem can influence (and help, I think) the making of another. The last few lines have been flung on the page rather quickly so there's a need to reflect now.
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John Clare in a Paris Bar
Thursday, 16 April 2009 12:25:32
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John Clare in a Paris Bar |
Thursday, 16 April 2009 12:25:32 |
I realised I'd been reading John Clare's Sonnet a little too often as I found myself writing: I love to see the glasses neatly lined And then I thought, why not? His technique is a simple one which I could adopt / adapt...
I love to see the bottles ready and uncorked And tables stained with ancient food and beer I like the waitress leanng half way o'er The long dark bar
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Welcome Back
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 15:21:17
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Welcome Back |
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 15:21:17 |
Easter is past, NATE Conference is over. How nice to meet up with the folk from Teachit there - and all those wonderful NATE members. A special hello to those of you who were in my workshop!
I've been riffling / rifling through notes and jottings and came up with some possible starting points for poems. I had the leasure of teaching at the ELSA Conference in Paris a few weeks ago and, of course, had to sit in a cafe in Montmartre, drink a pastis and watch the passers by. Looking at my jottings, I found this (spelling and handwriting corrected):
Bar one of many. Not far from Abbesses Metro stop. Art Deco/nouveau? Style. Accordion player outside! Here = Silver teapots jugs Bottles in a double line St James Martini Capari Pastis And sixteen of red already uncorked Well worn bar rocky bar stools Catering sized cling film Eight pression taps Outside Parisians smoke, phone, text, write, read, empty espresso cups, ashtray lighter menu memo pad and pen. glasses neatly lined The tumbler with the drinking straws in place
What can be made from any of that?
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