Child Catcher by Spack

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Thu, 2006-07-06 15:31

http://www.abctales.com/story/spack/the-child-catcher

Though undoubtedly one of the finest poets this site ere boasts, not all Spack's poetry appeals to my taste, probably cos it goes over my thick head.

But I really really really enjoyed this one. No finer tribute to effective imagery than 'It gives me pictures in my head' and this did from 'the planet is poster paint..." which is just too good. I fell through the atmosphere with this poem!

'Beach is a snake, scaled with umbrellas' - clever!
'little dizzy fatty' - loved this line so neat and punchy

Just a couple of highlights there, every line is a beaut although 'Thunder is the gurgle' is not the strongest for the first, but then the poem does gather pace.

I don't actually entirely get the poem's meaning but I want to explore it again and again. the control of language is a delight to read

Thu, 2006-07-06 15:43

poetjude

Been reading this some more. I really don't know about that thunder. Thunder isn't really gurgle-y which is maybe why I'm not convinced. Maybe thunder is the 'croup cough' ...or I'm sure you can come up with something a little better. alternatively just ignore me!

Thu, 2006-07-06 23:33

Brooklands

Hey Jude, Thanks for the flag. And for the comments and critique. I'm chuffed you liked it. What is a croup cough? I like it. I think that thunder can be gurgle-y, sometimes, but only when it's that half-thunder, the thunder before the thunder. Kind of burbling. We've had so much thunder recently, it's been great. Cheers! Joe

Fri, 2006-07-07 14:16

poetjude

Yes I know the rumbley, burbley, half-thunder gurgle you mean! I guess this line does work! Croup is a very common infection in babies which causes inflamation and mucus to build up in the airways and lungs causing a very distinctive harsh cough known as a 'croup-cough' or 'croupy cough'. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Fri, 2006-07-07 15:34

Juliet OC

i didnt get this at all to start with, then suddenly it became clear - in that the title is literal, a child running into its mothers arms to be swung round and around. I have to say it grew on me the further down i read - i can't get the image of thunder gurgling, but i know the type of thunder you mean - it grumbles but doesn't made a loud clap - the b4 and after a storm type. Juliet

Juliet

Fri, 2006-07-07 16:11

poetjude

Indeed. Sometimes a poem is so clear I can't find it for looking for something complicated. The more I read and understand this the more I love it. I've printed it out and it gets the dubious honour in my small world of joining the hall of fame on my bathroom door! Croup cough doesn't work because gurgle implies a certain level of contentment ...

Fri, 2006-07-07 17:51

Brooklands

Thanks Jude; it's not a dubious honour to be on your bathroom door - i'm stoked! Thank you oh curator of the lavatory poetry exhibition. I'm not normally down with directing people's readings of poems but, I'm sorry, Juliet, you've mistaken me poem for something horrible sentimental. I hope this doesn't spoil the poem for Jude - if you don't want to know my intentions then stop reading now - but, basically, this poem is about a child falling from space into the hands of a religious parent. If I ever write a poem about a child running along the beach into the arms of his mother then... then... well, it's not gonna happen. I feel a bit dirty at the suggestion. Sorry. *shivers* Joe

Fri, 2006-07-07 18:06

Juliet OC

i guess as a mother i don't find my interpretation sentimental, but it is interesting how very differently i saw it. It shows how our own view of the world colours what we read. But i am not sure why you think the image of a child running into its mothers arms is such a dirty suggestion? Surely all poetry taps into basic emotions of love, hate, anger and fear at some level whatever the content, and this poem triggered in me the mother/son bond. Juliet

Juliet

Fri, 2006-07-07 18:16

Brooklands

Hey Juliet, It's not a dirty suggestion, in fact, it's a super wholesome suggestion, and that's what makes me uncomfortable. I have a strong sentimentality gag reflex. I can't think of many more icky, cheesy, saccarin-sweet images than a child being swung around in their parent's arms. The thought makes me want to puke. But I'm not a parent and, clearly, it's not my time to be a Dad yet. I generally try and avoid writing poems about love, unless it's wonky in some way, but I definitely can get down with hate, anger and fear. I'm a very happy person really. I just think that happiness usually makes for pretty rubbish fiction/poetry. Joe

Fri, 2006-07-07 18:23

#10

Juliet OC

i know what you mean about saccharin-sweet images - but then that to me is what good writing is about, being able to take a tired/sentimental image and create a fresh perspective that you connect with. Maybe a challenge would be to try to write about love that isn't wonky but isn't sickly sweet either. In this poem, though i interpreted it completely differently to your intention, i found it refreshingly unsemtimental, which is why i liked it - go figure! Juliet

Juliet

Fri, 2006-07-07 20:14

#11

Chris Whitley

I thought it was about a child (or Man) being born. But I love its ambiguity. Chris

Sat, 2006-07-08 08:55

#12

poetjude

I also thought of it as the arrival of a child to earth. The falling from space feel conveys this. I should have guessed it was to a religious parent given the apple and chalice references. It can be read as Juliet did but I'm glad my original impression was closer to the mark and preferable (to me anyway!) jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

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