satguru
Multiloquent
Reged: Feb 17 2000
Posts: 4072
Loc: Kingsbury London UK
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I've been a fan ever since I first heard him read his children's poems on the radio, and started collecting his poetry books not long ago. I only really liked Hilaire Belloc, Roger McGough, Edward Lear and Ogden Nash poetry wise till then, and also as we turned out to have so much in common (besides politics) is another reason I like his poetry so much. We are both Jewish from NW London and have many childhood memories (my mother actually went to his school before him) but found I much prefer his children's material to the adult stuff, which can be quite depressing. He was also the 5th children's laureate from 2007-9.
This is my favourite by far, Don't do that (I knew I'd posted in here before!). Are there any other fans around besides me?
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"The panic over global warming is totally unjustified. There is no serious threat to the climate"
Vice Chair of the IPCC, Yuri Izrael, 2007
Edited by satguru (Wed Oct 07 2009 08:18 PM)
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Jabberwok
Forum Adept
Reged: Jun 24 2008
Posts: 173
Loc: Sussex England UK
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Me, he came to several poetry workshops at my school when I worked in North London.
very good performer of his own poetry.
His 'Eddie' poems were my favourite, followed by Chocolate cake which is lovely to do with a class as drama.
When you say 'his adult stuff' do you mean Carrying the Elephant?
Perhaps as a parent I find the poetry about the death of his son more moving than depressing.
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satguru
Multiloquent
Reged: Feb 17 2000
Posts: 4072
Loc: Kingsbury London UK
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I think he started writing for children and then had a go with grown up poetry, including the death of his son. Some are about his own childhood so cover both sides, but others are political (well he is very much), historical and mostly on quite negative themes. Maybe behind the clown the children see there is quite a sad person which comes out when he shows his true self. I hope not as it would be a shame while entertaining so many people he's not so happy himself.
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"The panic over global warming is totally unjustified. There is no serious threat to the climate"
Vice Chair of the IPCC, Yuri Izrael, 2007
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ren33
Forum Champion
Reged: Sep 30 1999
Posts: 7344
Loc: Fanling,Hong Kong
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Hee, glad you mentioned him. Yes I love his childrens poems best:
The Seagulls Think We Live at the Seaside
The seagulls think we live at the seaside:
the tower blocks are their cliffs,
they swoop for fish in the gutter
but happy that it’s last night’s fried rice.
They stand about talking on the pavement beach
and ride the sea-breezes pumped out by the cinema air-conditioning.
They hover over the waves of cars
and if you stare at them
wondering what they’re doing so far from home
they stare back:
“This is our home now.
That kebab
Is a crab.”
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Wandering aimlessly through FT since 1999.
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Calpurnia09
Participant
Reged: Jun 18 2009
Posts: 6
Loc: South Australia
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Thank you for that, ren33. It was beautiful. I had never heard of Michael Rosen but now I will search out his works.
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satguru
Multiloquent
Reged: Feb 17 2000
Posts: 4072
Loc: Kingsbury London UK
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I'm glad I've inspired someone else. He lives in North London and many people round here have seen him perform at their children's school, which is one of his main occupations. I may investigate to see if he's doing anything in public as I'd like to see him live, there aren't many of our favorites we can actually see locally.
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"The panic over global warming is totally unjustified. There is no serious threat to the climate"
Vice Chair of the IPCC, Yuri Izrael, 2007
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