Over mountains, glaciers and rivers,
a lammergeyer soars,
surveying the white mountains
with red-rimmed eyes.
It flies as a great winged spectre
to the cold wastes of the west.
The carcass of a blue sheep,
revealed by the retreat of the snow,
surrounded by crows
and griffon vultures.
Squabbling,
the griffons of the Himalayas
flay the sheep into a red blotch
on the mountainside.
Ripping away at sinew and muscle
until they reach the bones.
The spectre descends,
and the griffins scatter
as it lands in the grass.
It ruffles grey and white feathers,
lifts bones in its talons,
carries them above the slopes
and drops them onto the cold rocks.
The bones broken, the lammergeyer
feasts on luxurious marrow.
Wednesday 25 January 2017
Thursday 19 January 2017
New Silent Animal Poetry
Hi guys.
Just wanted to let you know that a new episode of Silent Animal Poetry is out on YouTube, the first in a long while. This time it's about a Roan antelope living on the savannah of East Africa. If you like poetry featuring antelope (which is a bit of a niche market to be honest) then check it out on my YouTube channel by following this link:
(Silent Animal Poetry Episode 5: Roan Antelope)
Also coming up, we've got more poetry, a few more articles and a further update on the Mametz Wood project.
Hope you're all having a good 2017 so far.
Just wanted to let you know that a new episode of Silent Animal Poetry is out on YouTube, the first in a long while. This time it's about a Roan antelope living on the savannah of East Africa. If you like poetry featuring antelope (which is a bit of a niche market to be honest) then check it out on my YouTube channel by following this link:
(Silent Animal Poetry Episode 5: Roan Antelope)
Also coming up, we've got more poetry, a few more articles and a further update on the Mametz Wood project.
Hope you're all having a good 2017 so far.
Sunday 15 January 2017
The Tiger Poet vs. Sherlock Round 2
(Note: Spoiler Free)
Okay, so the finale of the fourth series of Sherlock, The Final Problem, was much better than the episodes which preceded it, but there's still some strange narrative choices going on.
First of all, it was refreshing to see an episode which for the most part was very contained, with three of the main characters locked in a room (well, a number of them), trying to solve puzzles while faced with terrible choices. The first act started fairly well, with the cliffhanger from last week being resolved in the way I had expected, followed by some exposition about the secret Holmes sister before a cataclysm occurs. The next two thirds of the episode form a tense, brilliantly written thriller of Sherlock attempting to solve the mysteries of his past while also trying to deduce the endgame Eurus Holmes has in mind for him.
The positive things in this episode are numerous. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman still excel in roles they have made their own, as does Mark Gatiss as Mycroft. Here we saw a more vulnerable side to Sherlock's older, reptilian-hearted brother which was quite refreshing. There are also great if small performances from Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson and Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper. The key performance is that of Sian Brooke as Eurus, who dominates much of the episode with a chillingly emotionless candour. She has been separated from any social contact for most of her life and as a result has become colour-blind to morality. Eurus sees the world through the same grey lens, which is a great contrast to the devilish psychopathy of Moriarty in earlier seasons.
Speaking of Moriarty, the mystery about him which has persisted since the end of His Last Vow is resolved (after a fashion). I won't spoil anything, but I found the scenes concerning his fate to be a welcome diversion, although at times it was hard to tell if the events of this episode were really all part of Moriarty's posthumous plan.
If there's one thing Sherlock does right, it's the cinematography and set-design. The main location for this episode is a terrifically designed labyrinth full of psychological torture. The way shots are set up to illuminate things not seen at first is great, as is the ever-present pop-up deduction text. While I felt this had started to outstay its welcome a bit this series, it is particularly well done when we reach this story's eventual conclusion.
Despite the aforementioned pluses, there are still a number of things a bit off about this series finale. For one, Eurus, despite being intriguing as a character, at times resembles a character out of a Luc Besson film with her super-intellect and being incarcerated in a secret facility. One particular revelation about her was initially a welcome surprise, but upon closer inspection small details lead to further technical questions which are unanswered. Also the ending shows a character making a choice which I didn't quite believe given the revelations earlier in the episode.
Then we come to the ending itself, which while I liked as a standalone scene, came across like a bizarre summing up of what the episode means for the future of Sherlock. Since I'm writing this so soon after watching it I might be overlooking something. Hopefully I will find it out, or maybe someone will be kind enough to enlighten me.
So guys, that's pretty much all I have to say at present regarding The Final Problem. I may do a spoiler-filled take on this post at some point in the future. If you saw the series finale of Sherlock, what was your take on it? Good or bad, we have the promise of another series on the horizon. Now to settle in for another two-year wait.
Okay, so the finale of the fourth series of Sherlock, The Final Problem, was much better than the episodes which preceded it, but there's still some strange narrative choices going on.
First of all, it was refreshing to see an episode which for the most part was very contained, with three of the main characters locked in a room (well, a number of them), trying to solve puzzles while faced with terrible choices. The first act started fairly well, with the cliffhanger from last week being resolved in the way I had expected, followed by some exposition about the secret Holmes sister before a cataclysm occurs. The next two thirds of the episode form a tense, brilliantly written thriller of Sherlock attempting to solve the mysteries of his past while also trying to deduce the endgame Eurus Holmes has in mind for him.
The positive things in this episode are numerous. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman still excel in roles they have made their own, as does Mark Gatiss as Mycroft. Here we saw a more vulnerable side to Sherlock's older, reptilian-hearted brother which was quite refreshing. There are also great if small performances from Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson and Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper. The key performance is that of Sian Brooke as Eurus, who dominates much of the episode with a chillingly emotionless candour. She has been separated from any social contact for most of her life and as a result has become colour-blind to morality. Eurus sees the world through the same grey lens, which is a great contrast to the devilish psychopathy of Moriarty in earlier seasons.
Speaking of Moriarty, the mystery about him which has persisted since the end of His Last Vow is resolved (after a fashion). I won't spoil anything, but I found the scenes concerning his fate to be a welcome diversion, although at times it was hard to tell if the events of this episode were really all part of Moriarty's posthumous plan.
If there's one thing Sherlock does right, it's the cinematography and set-design. The main location for this episode is a terrifically designed labyrinth full of psychological torture. The way shots are set up to illuminate things not seen at first is great, as is the ever-present pop-up deduction text. While I felt this had started to outstay its welcome a bit this series, it is particularly well done when we reach this story's eventual conclusion.
Despite the aforementioned pluses, there are still a number of things a bit off about this series finale. For one, Eurus, despite being intriguing as a character, at times resembles a character out of a Luc Besson film with her super-intellect and being incarcerated in a secret facility. One particular revelation about her was initially a welcome surprise, but upon closer inspection small details lead to further technical questions which are unanswered. Also the ending shows a character making a choice which I didn't quite believe given the revelations earlier in the episode.
Then we come to the ending itself, which while I liked as a standalone scene, came across like a bizarre summing up of what the episode means for the future of Sherlock. Since I'm writing this so soon after watching it I might be overlooking something. Hopefully I will find it out, or maybe someone will be kind enough to enlighten me.
So guys, that's pretty much all I have to say at present regarding The Final Problem. I may do a spoiler-filled take on this post at some point in the future. If you saw the series finale of Sherlock, what was your take on it? Good or bad, we have the promise of another series on the horizon. Now to settle in for another two-year wait.
Saturday 14 January 2017
Throne of the Ospreys
An old conifer, gnarled and weathered,
crowned by a nest and two chicks,
striped, hook-beaked, featherless wings
like a half cooked Christmas lunch.
Their throne is webbed by wires,
charging electric crackles
bestowed by nervous birdwatchers
fearful for their new charges.
Around the trunk, indistinguishable
from the bushes it infests,
a wreath of wartime barbed wire
spilled into the undergrowth
as a warning and defence,
the work of a self-appointed
royal guard, dedicated and alert,
the natural enemies of egg thieves.
(Hi guys. So that's the poem for this weekend. Stay tuned to this blog for my verdict on the series finale of Sherlock, coming soon.)
crowned by a nest and two chicks,
striped, hook-beaked, featherless wings
like a half cooked Christmas lunch.
Their throne is webbed by wires,
charging electric crackles
bestowed by nervous birdwatchers
fearful for their new charges.
Around the trunk, indistinguishable
from the bushes it infests,
a wreath of wartime barbed wire
spilled into the undergrowth
as a warning and defence,
the work of a self-appointed
royal guard, dedicated and alert,
the natural enemies of egg thieves.
(Hi guys. So that's the poem for this weekend. Stay tuned to this blog for my verdict on the series finale of Sherlock, coming soon.)
Thursday 12 January 2017
New Videos (The Tiger and Me and Red Duke)
Hi guys.
Hope you're all enjoying the new year so far. It's snowing in Frynwys today, which is making the village look quite exquisite but is making access outside my house difficult.
Just wanted to let you guys know that videos for two poems have gone up on my YouTube channel; 'The Tiger and Me', and an exclusive poem-video 'The Red Duke'. You can find the links to these poems on the 'Videos' page of this blog. Also coming up is a video for 'Ideas' and after my previous article on Sherlock, I will be casting my verdict on the final episode of the series this Sunday. Hopefully it'll be good.
Have a good weekend, and I'll see you all soon.
Hope you're all enjoying the new year so far. It's snowing in Frynwys today, which is making the village look quite exquisite but is making access outside my house difficult.
Just wanted to let you guys know that videos for two poems have gone up on my YouTube channel; 'The Tiger and Me', and an exclusive poem-video 'The Red Duke'. You can find the links to these poems on the 'Videos' page of this blog. Also coming up is a video for 'Ideas' and after my previous article on Sherlock, I will be casting my verdict on the final episode of the series this Sunday. Hopefully it'll be good.
Have a good weekend, and I'll see you all soon.
Tuesday 10 January 2017
The Tiger Poet vs. Sherlock
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead.)
What is going on with Sherlock at the moment?
Don't get me wrong, I've been watching Sherlock since it debuted back in 2010, and I still think it's a terrific show with great acting by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, great camerawork, great atmosphere and mostly great everything. However one thing has been lacking of late, especially in recent years, and that is consistently great writing.
The first two series of Sherlock are among the most brilliant to have graced British television.
It cleverly brought the creations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into the 21st century with a host of novel approaches to adapting the source material. It was also great to see a modern Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson solving crimes in London with the ever-present threat of Jim Moriarty lurking in the background. Then The Reichenbach Fall happened in 2012, and the internet went mad. Numerous theories by fans and news sites tried to crack the mystery of how Holmes survived his fall from the roof of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Come the premier of Series 3 in 2013, we were all waiting to see how the writing partnership of Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Stephen Thompson would continue with the show.
The Empty Hearse was where the warning signs first appeared. Although the episode was still brilliant in many regards, there was the sense that the writers had let success get the better of them, with the mystery never properly explained, the character of Moriarty somewhat deflated, and the inclusion of one too-many nods towards the fan-base. Then came The Sign of Three, which played out more like a Christmas or Comic Relief special, and demonstrated the shift from individual cases to overarching series-long plots. His Last Vow was a great ending to the series, with a terrific villain in Charles Augustus Magnussen and with more development given to Mary Watson as a character. Then a new twist appeared and we had to wait another couple of years.
I still don't know what to think about The Abominable Bride. It was in many ways an admirable attempt to try a meta-storytelling approach with Sherlock, but it turned out to be too meta and self-indulgent than necessary. Now we arrive at the new series, and these problems are still present. It's not that the episodes themselves are not well produced, because they are still a cut above most others on TV, it's just that Moffat and Gatiss appear to be making the show far more convoluted than it needs to be. That's not saying that Sherlock should be completely easy to follow, but now it just feels like the writers are trying to prove to the audience how clever they are.
The Six Thatchers started off well enough, with an intriguing initial case, but the moment the old plotline of Mary's past surfaces the whole thing is thrown for a loop. Sherlock Holmes doesn't deduce too much; instead we are treated to a story of special agents and governmental betrayal like something out of the Bourne films. I had no problem with Sherlock besting a special forces agent in combat (as if one is familiar with the Conan Doyle stories, it's completely in his character), but I did have a problem with the great detective running out of chances to do some detecting.
I'm pleased to say I liked The Lying Detective a bit more, as it presented a clever adaptation of a Conan Doyle story which is quite difficult to adapt, and also because Sherlock had a lot more deducing to do. However the same problems of over-complication are still there, and the sense that the writers are trying too hard is difficult to escape. I never quite believed that Culverton Smith's friends would be so willing to hear his murderous confessions before allowing their memories to be altered, and as for the episode's cliffhanger? I'm not exactly worried about Sherlock and Mycroft's secret sister killing John because I know we've still got one episode to go. It was tense enough to learn the identity of the secret Holmes sibling; it didn't need a gunshot.
Still, I'm still liking Sherlock very much. Hopefully many questions I have now will be answered in the final episode next week, in particular if the much-debated potential return of Moriarty will ever get some definite payoff. Ultimately, Sherlock is still a terrific show, but let's hope the writers don't get ahead of themselves on this one.
What is going on with Sherlock at the moment?
Don't get me wrong, I've been watching Sherlock since it debuted back in 2010, and I still think it's a terrific show with great acting by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, great camerawork, great atmosphere and mostly great everything. However one thing has been lacking of late, especially in recent years, and that is consistently great writing.
The first two series of Sherlock are among the most brilliant to have graced British television.
It cleverly brought the creations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into the 21st century with a host of novel approaches to adapting the source material. It was also great to see a modern Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson solving crimes in London with the ever-present threat of Jim Moriarty lurking in the background. Then The Reichenbach Fall happened in 2012, and the internet went mad. Numerous theories by fans and news sites tried to crack the mystery of how Holmes survived his fall from the roof of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Come the premier of Series 3 in 2013, we were all waiting to see how the writing partnership of Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Stephen Thompson would continue with the show.
The Empty Hearse was where the warning signs first appeared. Although the episode was still brilliant in many regards, there was the sense that the writers had let success get the better of them, with the mystery never properly explained, the character of Moriarty somewhat deflated, and the inclusion of one too-many nods towards the fan-base. Then came The Sign of Three, which played out more like a Christmas or Comic Relief special, and demonstrated the shift from individual cases to overarching series-long plots. His Last Vow was a great ending to the series, with a terrific villain in Charles Augustus Magnussen and with more development given to Mary Watson as a character. Then a new twist appeared and we had to wait another couple of years.
I still don't know what to think about The Abominable Bride. It was in many ways an admirable attempt to try a meta-storytelling approach with Sherlock, but it turned out to be too meta and self-indulgent than necessary. Now we arrive at the new series, and these problems are still present. It's not that the episodes themselves are not well produced, because they are still a cut above most others on TV, it's just that Moffat and Gatiss appear to be making the show far more convoluted than it needs to be. That's not saying that Sherlock should be completely easy to follow, but now it just feels like the writers are trying to prove to the audience how clever they are.
The Six Thatchers started off well enough, with an intriguing initial case, but the moment the old plotline of Mary's past surfaces the whole thing is thrown for a loop. Sherlock Holmes doesn't deduce too much; instead we are treated to a story of special agents and governmental betrayal like something out of the Bourne films. I had no problem with Sherlock besting a special forces agent in combat (as if one is familiar with the Conan Doyle stories, it's completely in his character), but I did have a problem with the great detective running out of chances to do some detecting.
I'm pleased to say I liked The Lying Detective a bit more, as it presented a clever adaptation of a Conan Doyle story which is quite difficult to adapt, and also because Sherlock had a lot more deducing to do. However the same problems of over-complication are still there, and the sense that the writers are trying too hard is difficult to escape. I never quite believed that Culverton Smith's friends would be so willing to hear his murderous confessions before allowing their memories to be altered, and as for the episode's cliffhanger? I'm not exactly worried about Sherlock and Mycroft's secret sister killing John because I know we've still got one episode to go. It was tense enough to learn the identity of the secret Holmes sibling; it didn't need a gunshot.
Still, I'm still liking Sherlock very much. Hopefully many questions I have now will be answered in the final episode next week, in particular if the much-debated potential return of Moriarty will ever get some definite payoff. Ultimately, Sherlock is still a terrific show, but let's hope the writers don't get ahead of themselves on this one.
Monday 9 January 2017
Update on Mametz Wood Project
Some of you may remember, back in 2015, I announced I was starting a long-term project related to the First World War. A lot has changed since I set myself that target, but I'm pleased to report that after a long hiatus, my poetic tribute to those who fought at the Battle of Mametz Wood is still on my to-do list.
Mametz Wood holds a profound place in Welsh memory. It was a mission by the 38th (Welsh) Division to capture the German-held position of Mametz Wood during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. An estimated 4,000 men of the Welsh Division lost their lives in the battle for the wood which saw a British victory over a heavily defended network of German trenches.
Many artists and poets have memorialised the events at Mametz Wood. The most famous example is the narrative poem 'In Parenthesis' by David Jones, who fought in the battle and provided the most vivid depiction of it. Others include the artist Christopher Williams, who painted The Welsh at Mametz Wood at the behest of David Lloyd George, and the more recent 'Mametz Wood' by Owen Sheers.
Following in footsteps such as these is certainly no easy task, but I will try my best.
Mametz Wood holds a profound place in Welsh memory. It was a mission by the 38th (Welsh) Division to capture the German-held position of Mametz Wood during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. An estimated 4,000 men of the Welsh Division lost their lives in the battle for the wood which saw a British victory over a heavily defended network of German trenches.
Many artists and poets have memorialised the events at Mametz Wood. The most famous example is the narrative poem 'In Parenthesis' by David Jones, who fought in the battle and provided the most vivid depiction of it. Others include the artist Christopher Williams, who painted The Welsh at Mametz Wood at the behest of David Lloyd George, and the more recent 'Mametz Wood' by Owen Sheers.
Following in footsteps such as these is certainly no easy task, but I will try my best.
Saturday 7 January 2017
The Tiger and Me
At the age of three
I saw my first tiger
pacing up and down
next to a stone wall.
Blazing tawny fur,
emblazoned black stripes.
Entranced, beguiled, enthralled,
I had never seen a creature like this.
Two decades later
the tiger is still following me.
(Hi guys. So this is the first poem of the new year, and appropriately it's a tiger-themed one. Look out for more poems like this coming soon.)
I saw my first tiger
pacing up and down
next to a stone wall.
Blazing tawny fur,
emblazoned black stripes.
Entranced, beguiled, enthralled,
I had never seen a creature like this.
Two decades later
the tiger is still following me.
(Hi guys. So this is the first poem of the new year, and appropriately it's a tiger-themed one. Look out for more poems like this coming soon.)
Thursday 5 January 2017
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everyone!
Hope you're all doing well and had a nice Christmas. So far 2017 has had an uneventful start here in Frynwys, but things are definitely looking up for the new year. As for myself, I am currently searching for a job while I make the transition from postgraduate education to the world of work. I tried getting a part-time job at Frynwys's only shop, but they were looking for people with checkout experience. Not the best omen, but I will persevere in my search.
Poetry-wise, there is a lot to look forward to. Some of the poetry I wrote for my master's course is due to be published in my university's pamphlet, though who knows if anything will come of that. As for this blog, you can expect many new poems starting from the end of this week. I have had a bit of a writing spree of late, which is odd because Christmas was very quiet here.
Anyway, that's just a taster of what's to come. Thank you for stopping by, and I'll see you soon.
Hope you're all doing well and had a nice Christmas. So far 2017 has had an uneventful start here in Frynwys, but things are definitely looking up for the new year. As for myself, I am currently searching for a job while I make the transition from postgraduate education to the world of work. I tried getting a part-time job at Frynwys's only shop, but they were looking for people with checkout experience. Not the best omen, but I will persevere in my search.
Poetry-wise, there is a lot to look forward to. Some of the poetry I wrote for my master's course is due to be published in my university's pamphlet, though who knows if anything will come of that. As for this blog, you can expect many new poems starting from the end of this week. I have had a bit of a writing spree of late, which is odd because Christmas was very quiet here.
Anyway, that's just a taster of what's to come. Thank you for stopping by, and I'll see you soon.
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