Poetry

I have been looking at a book of poems for each day given me by my grandson. I think poetry should be read aloud. At school we learned by heart and I can still remember my favourites - "Upon Westminster Bridge", of course as that was close to where I lived. "Ozymandias" and "Abou Ben Adhem" At aged 11 in the scholarship exam I had to put into prose a poem called "The Windmill" which began "Behold a giant am I, aloft here in my tower. With my giant wings I devour the maize, the wheat and the rye" I find I am often put off modern poetry by the lack of rhythm and rhyme. Not all, of course. I love T.S.Eliot's Book of Cats read out loud. Shakespeare's poetry I know best when it is set to music as I learnt at school. On reading Alexander Pope (born 17th century) I was surprised at how many everyday expressions are quotations from his poetry.

• To err is human, to forgive, divine.


• Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.


• Love the offender yet detest the offence.


• Hope springs eternal in the human breast.


• Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel.


• Damn with faint praise.


• You beat your pate and fancy wit will come. Knock as you please, there's nobody at home.

How true those last two lines !