Jade; R.I.P.

Chris, I think we all have our own, deeply personal views on this. Yours are eloquently and passionately put. Well done on the cherry.

Tina xx

Yes, superb, sensitively dealt with.

J x

'When she ran out of life to sell,
She auctioned her death...'

These lines are amazing and the whole poem is just brilliant- somewhat sweet and sour.

An amazing poem. You should get it published somewhere. Well done.

Nathan.

I don't too much about the woman except what little I've read in the press. If she has done as much good about getting the message about cervical cancer out to others, then her life was not in vain. Well done, mate.

I agree with what Tina said that we all have our own opinions of Jade and what has happened but I think this is a very respectful and sensitive approach.

Magic xxx

I never had much opinion about her one way or the other, not being celeb-driven, but of course felt very sorry for her, as any compassionate person would, I think. I'd have done the same thing too, re the interviews etc, for my boys, had I had the opportunity.

Good poem, sensitively done, as mentioned - the only thing that jarred a little and interrupted the flow, I thought, was the capitalisation at the beginning of every line.

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Thank you Tina, Jen, Nathan, D, Magic and andrea. One of the pet hates that I have is the way people are talked about after death. When they are alive, at least they have the opportunity to defend themselves. Jade Goody was not a personal friend of mine, nor might I have agreed with how she lived her life, HOWEVER, it was her life not mine! It did not impact on my (or my family's) life; it cost me nothing; if I did not feel like watching her on TV, I could turn it off - and did! I will NEVER understand why so many people became angry...why??? Writing people off as 'thick' or 'stupid' is at best frivolous. Those in history, who can rightly be labelled Evil deserve to be castigated at every turn, if only so that others may be dissuaded...but is it a crime to be less intelligent? Some dictators in the past thought so and we called them EVIL! Think about it!

Hi Adrea. Thank you for commenting and I do take your comments on board. If you look back on some of my other work, you will notice that I do - where I deem it appropriate - remove the capital letters from the beginning of lines, where they would be out of place in the natural flow of verse. I initially tried it with this piece and it seemed (in my eyes) to detract from the visual impact. If I were entering this for competition, I would probably revert, as suggested. I DO agree with your comment and thank you for your very valid observation. ;)

I'll comment on both the content and the subject...

I'm not a huge fan of poetry. I believe 99% of it is poor and coveys only a parody of what the writer is actually on about. Only poets of the highest order convey the medium effectively and with real emotion. This piece isn't poor ... but there are sentiments which could be displayed with more skill IE

Meanwhile, the smear clinics
Take on extra staff, to cope
With the increased business.
And a woman somewhere,
Kneels by her sons’ bedside
And thanks the gods of fate;
For Jade!

The first half here is a mere statement. Where is the poetry? The rhythm? The second half doesn't make any sense. What woman, where? Why her sons? What gods? Roman? Egyption? Poetry should be about metaphor, imagery and symbolism. You're using an arbitray character performing a cliched act of praying. You tease at second hand sentiment in the reader, and it's difficult to be moved by it.

On the subject of Jade ... like the other posters, I only knew her from what was thrust upon by the popular media. She always came across as a crass, ill-informed, aggressive bully. How has cancer and death rubbed away these foundations of her persona? No one deserves cancer and pain - I work with cancer patients on a daily basis and it is an horrific, private occaision in a persons life. But her death hasn't absolved her of her previous behavior, yet Max Clifford, Gordon Brown and other bandwagon-jumpers have found popularity and fortune by helping her limp to her undignified demise. People who have really achieved in life (both by entertaining and bringing to light causes and appeals) such as Natashsa Richardson and a dozen nurse I could name, don't get poems written about them or the prime minister talking about them.

Off soap-box! You have an obvious talent for words, but steer away from poetry and have a go at narrative. And try avoiding subjects like Jade Goody. You won't achieve notoriety by flogging these lame horses. Good luck!!

Thanks for your comment phleggers. I would like to start my response by stating, that unlike you, I actually like poetry! I don't claim to be a great or even good poet; in fact, I have never claimed to be a poet at all. I have no special yearning to be published and/or famous. You on the other hand - while dismissing 99% of poetry as poor and a parody - seem to be rather an expert on what exactly it should be and who should be writing it.
I am a member of this site because I have friends here and I enjoy their company and reading and sharing our second class ditties, that sometimes actually fail to move us to tears.
I am afraid that I can't find it within myself to actually give a damn, whether or not you like any of my pieces or not.
As for the subject matter; I will continue to write about anything that takes my fancy. If I feel like getting on my soapbox, then get up, I shall.
I would have to agree with you when you state that their are many unsung heroes out there, within the nursing community. Having nursed my own Father up until his death, from this insidious disease and 2 years later my Mother; I am well aware of the fantastic job that the visiting Hospice nurses do.
You obviously have very personal views with regard to the late Jade Goody. I on the other hand do not! Maybe I just don't know enough about her. I do know that she is dead; I do know that regardless what you or I think of her, many more women may not die from this Evil Disease because of a woman who 'limped to her undignified death' in full public view. One of these women may well kneel by her sons' bedside and thank whatever God she chooses to worship, that she went for that smear test because she watched/read/listened to something aired about Jade Goody.
I will not judge Jade Goody (or indeed the beautiful Natasha Richardson) or anybody else for that matter! I do not feel myself qualified to do so.
I wish my own Mother had seen something or someone like Jade Goody; it may have prompted her to have herself checked out; I may have enjoyed more time with her, whereupon I would have offered up a prayer for the girl or 'lame horse' as you prefer to view her. Some other Mothers' son, somewhere may well have cause to do the same; and they will not be seeking any kind of notoriety either.
I wish Jade Goody PEACE and I wish you the same phleggers.
If you do not enjoy the poetry on this site; I suggest you check out some of the 'Stories'. I 'judge' them to be rather good - but then my judgement may well be a little flawed.
Good Luck to you and thank you again for visiting.

Chris

Thanks for your response Chris. Very intelligent and well thought through.

My gripe is more with Max Clifford rather than Jade Goody, to be fair. He made lots of money from her because of her base flambouyancy ... and he continued to do so by using her illness as a front for nobility! He hid behind this thin veil of an excuse that 'she is living out her death in public in order to bring to attention the plight of cancer, and to make money for her children.' My beef is that there are better, more dignified ways of doing this. Give all the money you made to the MacMillon nurse, for a start. Did you ever come into contact with them, Chris? Extraordinary people. Take the cameras to a hospice - show off some of the people and families struck down with the awfulness of it. She could have sought advice from a cancer charity and done the whole thing properly, not as a reality TV show. As for her boys, what are they going to do with all this money? Not have to work when they reach their adult years? Not learn a work ethic, principles or how to act responsibly?

As for poetry, as I say, I'm not really qualified to comment because it is a very narrow medium for me. To his coy mistress, Hedd Wynn, Sassoon, William Blake, Kipling and Spike Milligan aside, I don't rate poetry. Not my bag. But you obviously have a knack for it. Keep it going.

Of course, I wish her peace also. I didn't agree with her principles or the way she conducted herself, but no one deserves the pain she went through. It's an evil way to die - as you know only too well. Anyone who has nursed a family member through illness deserves boundless praise. I recently lost my brother - the only comforting element of his loss was that he went quickly and painlessly. I couldn't have coped if he'd have suffered.

Good luck with the writing. Hope we engage in repartee again! It's been enlightening...

Max Clifford; now there is a hymn sheet I think I could share with you. He would be one of the 'Hawkers/Merchants' in the piece above and I believe interested in nothing but personal gain; both monetary and career.
To be honest, I have not heard of 'MacMillon nurse'. My parents both died in Ireland where most counties have a Hospice. The nurses work in and from the Hospice. Most of the Hospices depend mostly on charitable donations and if my 'Lottery numbers' ever come up, they will not want!
Nursing family members through this wretched disease, is something I would not let my family do for me and yet I would not have done it any other way; how's that for a paradox!
As for poetry; I would have to admit to being 'no expert' with regard to modern poetry. My favourites would have been, Donne, Herbert and other notable oldies; back when puns, structure and god forbid rhyming were almost essentials. I must say that Seamus Heaney works for me also.
Back to Jade Goody; I have 3 daughters! I like to think that I may be around long enough to make sure that they have some of the advantages, that they deserve in life. Maybe if someone had thought to do the same for Ms. Goody, things may have turned out differently...there but for the grace of god....

Thanks for coming back phleggers; my work is always open for and too criticism; feel free, you might even find something that you consider passable ;)

Thanks and Good Luck!

Touche! Remember - I have extraordinarily high standards...

MacMillon nurses (spelling might be wrong) are basically palliative nurses who go into the homes of people who have cancer and nurse them to their last breaths. It's a job of relentless loss, pain, pity and sadness, and yet they do it day in day out with impeccible professionlism whilst supporting grieving relatives throught the hardest times of their lives. As I say, I couldn't do it, and i've been working at the hard end of nursing for longer than I care to mention!

Thanks again, and good luck with the poetry.

Why does all poetry have to be poetic? Or for publication?

Chris is making a point with this piece - this is a site which encourages self-expression!

If poetry is 'not your bag', phleggers, then why do you read it?!

J x

Why shouldn't I? If someone writes a poem on a contentious issue, i'll read it and have an opinion.

And you're right - this is a site that encourages self-expression. But the reader should also be encouraged to challenge that if they wish. We are in the public domain, after all...