• Re: PPB: To My Mother / Christina Rossetti

    From Michael Pendragon@user17124@newsgrouper.org.invalid to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Mon May 11 18:46:25 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).
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  • From nancygene.andjayme@nancygene.andjayme@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (NancyGene) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Mon May 11 15:06:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    Michael Pendragon wrote:
    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:


    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html



    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).




    Almost a Palindrome, Mother My To
    by Rossetti, Christina and Andjayme, NancyGene

    Day natal your to-dayrCOs;
    Bring I flowers sweet:
    Pray I, accept, Mother
    Offering my.

    Live happy you may and,
    Bless us long and;
    Give you as receiving
    Happiness great.


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  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Mon May 11 15:27:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    Verily, in article <1778525185-17124@newsgrouper.org>, did user17124 @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:

    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).

    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Will Dockery@user3274@newsgrouper.org.invalid to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Mon May 11 20:08:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments


    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> posted:

    Verily, in article <1778525185-17124@newsgrouper.org>, did user17124 @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:

    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).

    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    Agreed and seconded.
    --
    Poetry and songs of Will Dockery:
    https://www.reverbnation.com/willdockery
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  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 07:07:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    George J. Dance wrote:
    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html



    Again, nice poem in honor of one of the best holidays of all.

    '


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  • From georgedance04@georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 08:46:46 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos



    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.


    This response appears in the discussion at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=704910953#704910953
    --
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  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 12:40:40 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.



    Well put, GJD.


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  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 12:47:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.



    Christina Rossetti wrote this poem when she was just 11-years old, that's impressive.


    This response appears in the discussion at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=704910953#704910953
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  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.com to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 17:28:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    Verily, in article <l-Kdnfw9y5VcxJ73nZ2dnZfqnPednZ2d@giganews.com>, did will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid deliver unto us this message:
    Christina Rossetti wrote this poem when she was just 11-years old, that's impressive.


    Yes, that's amazing. I wrote poems at that age, but not like that.
    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From michaelmaleficapendragon@michaelmaleficapendragon@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (HarryLime) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 20:12:46 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.




    That's something you should have noted when you posted the poem -- it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old... not so impressive for an adult.

    Your blog lists it as having been published in a posthumous collection from 1907. She lived to be 64, and one would naturally assume that her posthumously published works were among the last she'd written -- not the first.

    You've done her something of an injustice, but her reputation is nevertheless sure to survive.


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  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Tue May 12 21:10:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    HarryLime wrote:
    [snip]



    Glory be!

    The return of Harry Lime.

    EfyA


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  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Thu May 14 06:26:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    HarryLime wrote:

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry,
    though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.



    That's something you should have noted when you posted the poem -- it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old.



    On this we agree.


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    --
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  • From Michael Pendragon@user17124@newsgrouper.org.invalid to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Thu May 14 19:00:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments


    will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) posted:

    HarryLime wrote:

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted: >>>>
    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, >> though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.



    That's something you should have noted when you posted the poem -- it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old.



    On this we agree.

    Hear that, Dunce? Even your Donkey agrees.
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  • From Will Dockery@user3274@newsgrouper.org.invalid to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Thu May 14 19:12:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments


    Michael Pendragon <user17124@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:
    will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) posted:
    HarryLime wrote:
    George J. Dance wrote:
    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:
    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to >>> meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light >>> verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, >> though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.

    it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old.

    On this we agree.

    Hear that

    The poem is impressive for an 11 year old, obviously.

    HTH and HAND.
    --
    Poetry and songs of Will Dockery:
    https://www.reverbnation.com/willdockery
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Fri May 15 22:05:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    Michael Pendragon wrote:
    will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) posted:


    HarryLime wrote:

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry,
    though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.

    - it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old.



    On this we agree.



    agrees.



    I agree that the poem is impressive for an 11-year old poet.

    HTH and HAND.


    This response appears in the discussion at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=704910953#704910953
    --
    Via JLA Forums web gateway for alt.arts.poetry.comments: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=655
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From georgedance04@georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Fri May 15 23:26:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    Will-Dockery wrote:

    Michael Pendragon wrote:
    will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) posted:


    HarryLime wrote:

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, >>> though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.

    - it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old.



    On this we agree.



    agrees.


    I agree that the poem is impressive for an 11-year old poet.

    HTH and HAND.



    In fact, Will, you said that the poem was impressive for an
    11-year-old before Harry/Michael did. So, as much as he'd
    never admit it, he's actually agreeing with you.


    This response appears in the discussion at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=704910953#704910953
    --
    Via JLA Forums web gateway for alt.arts.poetry.comments: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=655
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From will.dockery@will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) to alt.arts.poetry.comments on Sat May 16 00:14:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.arts.poetry.comments

    George J. Dance wrote:

    Will-Dockery wrote:

    Michael Pendragon wrote:
    will.dockery@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (Will-Dockery) posted:


    HarryLime wrote:

    George J. Dance wrote:

    The True Melissa wrote:
    Verily, in article <1778525185>, did user17124
    @newsgrouper.org.invalid deliver unto us this message:


    georgedance04@yahoo-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (George J. Dance) posted:

    Penny's Poetry Blog's poem for Mother's Day:
    To My Mother, by Christina Rossetti

    [...]
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.
    [...]

    (read for Eternal Poems)

    https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2026/05/to-my-mother-christina-rossetti.html

    TO MY MOTHER

    To-day's your natal day;
    Sweet flowers I bring:
    Mother, accept, I pray
    My offering.

    And may you happy live,
    And long us bless;
    Receiving as you give
    Great happiness.

    -- Christina Rossetti

    I'm afraid I'm not a fan of this one; too many inversions (to the point that they call undue attention to themselves), and more of a Hallmark card than a poem (no metaphor, just birthday wishes).



    It's not my favorite Rossetti, but I like it. The strict adherence to
    meter and rhyme gives it both a formality and an artistry most light
    verse lacks.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos


    thank you for reading and commenting. You did a better job
    answering MMP's points than I could have; not just because
    you were an impartial reader -- my defense of the poem I
    blogged would have been suspect -- but also because you
    brought attention to something I missed. I reread the poem in light
    of the discussion and realized that two of her inversions were
    because she'd used cross rhyme, while I'd guess that upwards of
    95% of poets would have settled for ABCB.

    I think that's the attraction of her poem: that she combines
    strict formalism with such natural content, that reads like something
    a child would actually say. That last isn't really a matter of artistry, >>>> though; she was just 11 when she wrote this and had
    it published (by her grandfather). Which makes her command
    of form at the time all the more amazing.

    - it's an impressive work for an 11-year-old.



    On this we agree.



    agrees.


    I agree that the poem is impressive for an 11-year old poet.

    HTH and HAND.


    In fact, Will, you said that the poem was impressive for an
    11-year-old before Harry/Michael did. So, as much as he'd
    never admit it, he's actually agreeing with you.



    I hadn't noticed but Michael Pendragon is a well known second hander, after all.

    EfyA


    This response appears in the discussion at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=704910953#704910953
    --
    Via JLA Forums web gateway for alt.arts.poetry.comments: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=655
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2