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craig cornish's Blog

About craig cornish
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I started writing poetry as a young boy, actually they were lyrics to melodies I would invent, performed before the captive audience of Mom and Dad, who were, at least outwardly entertained.  Let’s face it, if you can’t please a loving family it’s probably not a good idea to take your show on the road.  I started writing poems in high school for English and Lit. classes and through college, some for courses, some for loves, and some---just because.  Sold some lyrics for ads and had some writings published.  Then life struck—marriage, family, work, and I didn’t write another poem for years, well, maybe a few.  Then just over a year ago I was searching for inspiration for a eulogy because a friend’s Dad had died and my search lead me to Poetry Soup and the fine poets who reside here.  I have learned more here than in all of my English and Literature classes combined.  I can think of many names that have been particularly inspirational but truly it is the whole—this creative melting pot…Poetry Soup---Thank You


 

Most Recent Blog Post


My First Poet Hero
Blog Posted:1/14/2013 9:23:00 AM

 

Shortly after Magee's first combat action on November 8, 1941, Magee sent his family another poem ("... another trifle which may interest you."). Or rather, the beginnings of a poem, never quite finished. Although it is not certain, this poem is quite possibly the last that Magee wrote. Per ardua ad astra is the motto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces such as the RAAFRNZAF, and theRCAF. It dates from 1912 and was used by the newly-formed Royal Flying Corps, and is translated as "Through adversity to the stars".

"Per Ardua"
(To those who gave their lives to England during the Battle of
Britain and left such a shining example to us who follow, these
lines are dedicated.)
"They that have climbed the white mists of the morning;
They that have soared, before the world's awake,
To herald up their foeman to them, scorning
The thin dawn's rest their weary folk might take;
Some that have left other mouths to tell the story
Of high, blue battle, quite young limbs that bled,
How they had thundered up the clouds to glory,
Or fallen to an English field stained red.
Because my faltering feet would fail I find them
Laughing beside me, steadying the hand
That seeks their deadly courage –
Yet behind them
The cold light dies in that once brilliant Land ....
Do these, who help the quickened pulse run slowly,
Whose stern, remembered image cools the brow,
Till the far dawn of Victory, know only
Night's darkness, and Valhalla's silence now?"

As a young man of 10 my first poet hero was John Gillespie Magee Jr. and the first poem I committed to memory was his poem High Flight which was the most famous poem ever written about flying.  He wrote the poem about three months before he died in 1941 at the age of 19. As you can see, the preceding poem was also written by John. I invite you to search for more of his work and likewise lament the loss of such a great life and talent that we could have shared for many years. After all, if he had lived he would now be 91.
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  1. Date: 1/14/2013 2:45:00 PM
    How 'bout this one "Sonnet to Rupert Brooke" "We laid him in a cool and shadowed grove One evening in the dreamy scent of thyme Where leaves were green, and whispered high above — A grave as humble as it was sublime; There, dreaming in the fading deeps of light — The hands that thrilled to touch a woman's hair; Brown eyes, that loved the Day, and looked on Night, A soul that found at last its answered Prayer... There daylight, as a dust, slips through the trees. And drifting, gilds the fern around his grave — Where even now, perhaps, the evening breeze Steals shyly past the tomb of him who gave New sight to blinded eyes; who sometimes wept — A short time dearly loved; and after, — slept."

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  1. Date: 1/14/2013 2:18:00 PM
    thanks for showing this one, Craig. Not familiar with it before, but I quite liked it.

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  1. Date: 1/14/2013 11:36:00 AM
    Beautiful Craig, will check out his other poetry thanks for sharing this, xxx

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  1. Date: 1/14/2013 10:38:00 AM
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem with us, Craig. There are 3 poems listed on the following site by this fine poet: http://www.poemhunter.com/john-gillespie-magee/

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  1. Date: 1/14/2013 10:11:00 AM
    This is so wonderfully, sensitively written. What a heartfelt dedication !! Thank you for sharing this...I will indeed look up this author. A talented young man he was...so sad that he didn't live to share more words.

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My Past Blog Posts

 
New Contest--Write lyrics to Pierre Bensusan's Le Jardin d'Adonis
Date Posted: 5/17/2013 3:39:00 PM
Sinatra Snippet
Date Posted: 5/14/2013 7:41:00 AM
Poem from the B.C. Comic Strip this AM
Date Posted: 5/12/2013 7:03:00 AM
Another Lyric for Tim's Blog
Date Posted: 5/10/2013 11:25:00 AM
Castro Screw
Date Posted: 5/9/2013 6:43:00 PM
Haiku
Date Posted: 5/2/2013 4:52:00 PM
Worst Poem
Date Posted: 4/24/2013 3:21:00 PM
Enough Said!!
Date Posted: 4/22/2013 3:38:00 PM
The Rose
Date Posted: 4/19/2013 11:50:00 AM
Marathon Update
Date Posted: 4/19/2013 7:11:00 AM
New Contest--The Typewriter
Date Posted: 4/17/2013 3:38:00 PM
Tissue Box Contest Judged
Date Posted: 4/17/2013 10:01:00 AM
Limerick rhyme scheme
Date Posted: 4/2/2013 4:25:00 PM
Gone till next week.
Date Posted: 4/1/2013 3:24:00 PM
Robin
Date Posted: 3/27/2013 1:34:00 PM
Pearl contest judged
Date Posted: 3/22/2013 1:30:00 PM
Hehe
Date Posted: 3/22/2013 9:36:00 AM
Kids
Date Posted: 3/17/2013 9:53:00 AM
Because these are Serious Times
Date Posted: 3/15/2013 8:32:00 AM
Paper is not Dead !
Date Posted: 3/13/2013 1:37:00 PM
Some Know How to Live
Date Posted: 3/9/2013 1:54:00 PM
New Contest---The Pearl
Date Posted: 3/1/2013 3:10:00 PM
Most Fascinating Person I Never Knew Judged
Date Posted: 3/1/2013 1:13:00 PM
The Painted Veil
Date Posted: 2/28/2013 2:48:00 PM
Song Writers are Poets Too--FYI--The Bee Gees
Date Posted: 2/26/2013 6:40:00 AM

My Poems

12345678
Date PostedPoem TitleFormCategories
5/17/2013Crimson PassionRhymepassion,
5/16/2013Linda's SongFree verse (vers libre)dedication,
5/16/2013The Belated DebutanteQuatrainfunny,
5/15/2013Life's WavesFree verse (vers libre)life,
5/14/2013Too YoungPantoumdad,death,
5/14/2013Five MinutesFree verse (vers libre)introspection,
5/10/2013GreenTankalove,
5/7/2013To LilyQuatrainbirthday,
5/6/2013In Silence I StoodVillanellelife,love,
5/4/2013Blue GardeniaFree verse (vers libre)love,
5/4/2013merlotHaikunature,
5/3/2013SophisticationFree verse (vers libre)life,
4/29/2013A Ripple in TimeFree verse (vers libre)hope,life,
4/25/2013Evolution Worst PoemFree verse (vers libre)life,
4/21/2013Life's LessonsBlank verselife,
4/21/2013The Otters PlaySonnetlife,
4/20/2013FriendshipAcrosticfriendship,
4/20/2013Dragon SlayersFree verse (vers libre)life,
4/19/2013In The MeadowSonnetwar,
4/18/2013Haiku ap1813Haikunature,
4/16/2013Synathroesmic CatCoupletfunny,
4/14/2013 MoonFree verse (vers libre)moon,
4/14/2013In Medias ResVersereligious,truth,
4/13/2013CoccinellidaeQuintain (English)funny,
4/13/2013Belly UpRhymesong-lyric,me,fun,me,
12345678

My Photos


Fav Poems

1234
Poem TitleFormCategories
ViolinPersonificationdeath,love,sadworld,rose,
Evening WalkFree verse (vers libre)introspection,life,nature
The Sowing Free verse (vers libre)devotion
Why I WeepItalian Sonnetnatureme,
LONG DISTANT DREAMRhymenature
An Invitation to DanceSonnetmusic,nature,
Secrets of the StreamFree verse (vers libre)introspection,nature
GrandpaCoupletchildhood,loss,sadold,chi
Double PhantasyFree verse (vers libre)loss,mystery,sad
Something of a DreamerFree verse (vers libre)life,
Silver StrandsBiolove,mother,me,silver,
Montage PoetryLyrichappiness,history,uplifti
A Mutual passionBlank verseromance,longing,longing,l
Spring ReturnedRondeauhappiness,love,people,sou
January--Miss Doom and GloomPersonificationimagination,nature,new ye
MagicAcrosticfantasy,imagination,smile
Wind PowerRhymenature,
Gold StarNarrativechildhood,war,war,star,bl
FIRST CHERUBIC CHANCELyricmystery,uplifting
Circle of LifeRhymedeath,introspection,life,
New EnglandRhymenature,seasons,
If EverSonnetfaith,hope,inspirational,
ALL FOR HONORQuatrainlost love,sad,sleep,
THE HOURSSonneton writing and words,time
EULOGY FOR THE ELDON GALLERY, WATERLOOFree verse (vers libre)art,life,places,sad,grand
1234

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
Becca Lucas United States Flag United States Read