Hi grasshopper,
I think my machine went silly a couple of minutes ago and sent a message I
hadn't finished...
So I've already tried to send this completed one...
But it hasn't appeared (even after 6 hours...)
So this might appear twice! But...
I was trying to type that I liked your poem, that it has resonances/echoes
of other things:
Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,
and there's a Jaques Prevert poem I've loved for years: To Paint The
Portrait Of A Bird.
and the comment I find it alludes to most is Rita Dove's comment that poetry
is the tightest cage (and, if the words sing in that cage it's wonderful...)
I guess I find the strongest link with Rita Dove's comment.
On a darker (ie less light, or lighthearted) level... I wonder if we can
keep words to ourselves? And because I wonder that, I'm glad you've made me
think of all the people who've given me all kinds of words - and all kinds
of strange and intruiging thoughts!
Bob
P.S. ... and this is "almost" Betjemanesque in its style! LOL

>From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub: Burden
>Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 02:02:39 +0100
>
>
>                  Burden
>
>I am so happy with my words,
>I keep them in a cage like birds.
>I feed them dandelions and seed
>and find there's little that they need.
>I change their sand-sheets every day.
>
>In case they want to fly away
>I leave the cage door swinging wide
>but they sit peacefully inside
>the bars, and bathe and preen and sing.
>I love my words like anything!
>
>
>                                     grasshopper
>






_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx