Poetry
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Re: Poetry
Oh dear, the contrasts in this poem are disconcerting and therefore gives the poem all its power! It is interesting to read that these lyrics have been written in 1937 to protested against racism in America, particularly the lynching of African Americans. This song has sadly some relevance till today.Catseye wrote: Written by Dwayne P. Wiggins, Maurice Pearl, Lewis Allan •
I love Billie Holiday's version-the voice and the power of the lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnlTHvJBeP0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Poetry
I didn't have time before to give you my interpretation before,so,for our younger viewers here's myCatseye wrote:Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
Written by Dwayne P. Wiggins, Maurice Pearl, Lewis Allan •
I love Billie Holiday's version-the voice and the power of the lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnlTHvJBeP0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
analysis.
it opens with the line"Southern trees bear a strange fruit" at first it seem neutral but the hint is in 'southern' and 'strange fruit'
Why southern-it eludes to a place and possibly a time.
'strange fruit' piques the interest of the listener or reader to the ensuing narrative.
It's only untill the third line the the general picture is revealed "Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze"
"Pastoral scene of the gallant South"
"gallant" has real meaning here-even today many in the Southern Confederate State of the USA believe the that the end of slavery was an end to their way of life.
"Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh"
The contrast of these two line is startling and brutal,the masters still smell magnolias and the black slaves/dissidents have a different view.
' Here is a strange and bitter crop'- 'strange' because it is incomprehensible to us that this could happen, 'bitter'-self evident.
What does it mean to me?-It's my ancestral bitter history so naturally it resonates with me.
I could write a 4000 word essay on this but we can't do all the work for the young'uns
Re: Poetry
I have a friend who wrote a poem with the theme of 'messages' as it was the theme for this year National Poetry Day. She does not mind me posting it here ( though she feels it is not completly polished. I like her last stanza... because I am a bit crazy about old English 
)
THE POET’S MESSAGES
During days of turmoil and darkness
The poet’s role is clear and important:
Elevating his voice above the ugliness,
The fire in his soul is ardent.
Not fearing to crusade,
Our poet works and serves.
Shame to the poets who evade,
Those who have no nerves!
Rising above human failures,
Passion, vision, knowledge and confidence
Are our stimulating hero’s spurs,
To encourage us towards embracing benevolence.
Carrying the weight of humanity’s plight
Upon his wide and strong shoulders,
He turns ideas and words in the philosophical light,
Celebrating also all the world wonders.
Condemning wars’ tragic futility,
Or praising moral values, like courage and sense of justice
He cries aloud out against human villainy,
Hypocrisy, wickedness and injustice.
But sometimes he revolts against God:
‘Why dost thou allow this misery?
Why dost thou let us all the way plod,
With no sign of thy divine mercy?’
)THE POET’S MESSAGES
During days of turmoil and darkness
The poet’s role is clear and important:
Elevating his voice above the ugliness,
The fire in his soul is ardent.
Not fearing to crusade,
Our poet works and serves.
Shame to the poets who evade,
Those who have no nerves!
Rising above human failures,
Passion, vision, knowledge and confidence
Are our stimulating hero’s spurs,
To encourage us towards embracing benevolence.
Carrying the weight of humanity’s plight
Upon his wide and strong shoulders,
He turns ideas and words in the philosophical light,
Celebrating also all the world wonders.
Condemning wars’ tragic futility,
Or praising moral values, like courage and sense of justice
He cries aloud out against human villainy,
Hypocrisy, wickedness and injustice.
But sometimes he revolts against God:
‘Why dost thou allow this misery?
Why dost thou let us all the way plod,
With no sign of thy divine mercy?’
Re: Poetry
Thank you for that catseye - both the poem and the interpretation. I find the following line very powerful as it is true on so many levels:Catseye wrote:I didn't have time before to give you my interpretation before,so,for our younger viewers here's myCatseye wrote:Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
Written by Dwayne P. Wiggins, Maurice Pearl, Lewis Allan •
I love Billie Holiday's version-the voice and the power of the lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnlTHvJBeP0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
analysis.
it opens with the line"Southern trees bear a strange fruit" at first it seem neutral but the hint is in 'southern' and 'strange fruit'
Why southern-it eludes to a place and possibly a time.
'strange fruit' piques the interest of the listener or reader to the ensuing narrative.
It's only untill the third line the the general picture is revealed "Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze"
"Pastoral scene of the gallant South"
"gallant" has real meaning here-even today many in the Southern Confederate State of the USA believe the that the end of slavery was an end to their way of life.
"Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh"
The contrast of these two line is startling and brutal,the masters still smell magnolias and the black slaves/dissidents have a different view.
' Here is a strange and bitter crop'- 'strange' because it is incomprehensible to us that this could happen, 'bitter'-self evident.
What does it mean to me?-It's my ancestral bitter history so naturally it resonates with me.
I could write a 4000 word essay on this but we can't do all the work for the young'uns
'Blood on the leaves and blood at the root'
UmSusu
Re: Poetry
'Blood on the leaves and blood at the root'
Yes, it's a powerful and impactful line.
e.g from birth to death-despair,discrimination all the way for being black/asian;muslim; a women;disabled;poor;not grammar standard
Yes, it's a powerful and impactful line.
e.g from birth to death-despair,discrimination all the way for being black/asian;muslim; a women;disabled;poor;not grammar standard
Re: Poetry
tut tut... your list is fine, except for the last item!Catseye wrote: from birth to death-despair,discrimination all the way for being black/asian;muslim; a women;disabled;poor;not grammar standard
GS DO give opportunities to children from poor backgrounds! They do!Re: Poetry
JaneEyre wrote:tut tut... your list is fine, except for the last item! GS DO give opportunities to children from poor backgrounds! They do!
This not the place nor the time to have another argument.
Thank you,again,for this thread.
I love you because you are one of the best contributors here-respect!-I have soft spot for Brummies and Black Country folk.
Re: Poetry
This thread is a pleasure! 
I am reading for the first time poems of whose existence I had previously known nothing!
Thanks for sharing!
I am reading for the first time poems of whose existence I had previously known nothing! Thanks for sharing!
Re: Poetry
Here is a funny poem... posted on a Saturday!
Saw My Teacher On a Saturday by Dave Crawley
Saw my teacher on a Saturday!
I can’t believe it’s true!
I saw her buying groceries,
like normal people do!
She reached for bread and turned around,
and then she caught my eye.
She gave a smile and said, “Hello.”
I thought that I would die!
“Oh, hi…hello, Miss Appleton,”
I mumbled like a fool.
I guess I thought that teacher types
spend all their time at school.
To make the situation worse,
my mom was at my side.
So many rows of jars and cans.
So little room to hide.
Oh please, I thought, don’t tell my mom
what I did yesterday!
I closed my eyes and held my breath
and hoped she’d go away.
Some people think it’s fine to let
our teachers walk about.
But when it comes to Saturdays,
they shouldn’t let them out!
Saw My Teacher On a Saturday by Dave Crawley
Saw my teacher on a Saturday!
I can’t believe it’s true!
I saw her buying groceries,
like normal people do!
She reached for bread and turned around,
and then she caught my eye.
She gave a smile and said, “Hello.”
I thought that I would die!
“Oh, hi…hello, Miss Appleton,”
I mumbled like a fool.
I guess I thought that teacher types
spend all their time at school.
To make the situation worse,
my mom was at my side.
So many rows of jars and cans.
So little room to hide.
Oh please, I thought, don’t tell my mom
what I did yesterday!
I closed my eyes and held my breath
and hoped she’d go away.
Some people think it’s fine to let
our teachers walk about.
But when it comes to Saturdays,
they shouldn’t let them out!
Re: Poetry
JaneEyre wrote:But when it comes to Saturdays,
they shouldn’t let them out!
Once, at sainsbury's my OH and I were doing our grocery shop and one of his patients come up and says something similar and she was adult
