tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post2190965034137642676..comments2024-03-18T04:40:38.214-05:00Comments on Murderous Musings: A Matter of MeterChester Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07155257451021065218noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-49307708025911201022010-12-11T18:03:49.800-06:002010-12-11T18:03:49.800-06:00Bill,
Thanks for that! I found a copy of Edson'...Bill,<br />Thanks for that! I found a copy of Edson's <a href="http://www.casparinstitute.org/lib/poemEdsonRavinsPoe.htm" rel="nofollow">"Ravin's of a Piute Poet Poe"</a>, and you're right, it's a hoot and a half.<br /><br />Edson lays it on thick, but well.Jonathan E. Quisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13334719433572303381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-73844200499522826602010-12-11T18:00:11.691-06:002010-12-11T18:00:11.691-06:00Chester -
Regarding Skipper Ireson's ride: Be...Chester -<br /><br />Regarding Skipper Ireson's ride: Benjamin "Flood" Ireson was captain of the schooner Betsy, which appeared to ignore a distress flare from the Active during a heavy a storm. When Active's captain and the few survivors reached land and the story spread, Captain Ireson was tarred and feathered, and run out of town in a cart, followed by taunts of the fishwives who'd lost husbands and sons on the Active.<br /><br />When I studied it in school, our teacher played a professional reading, with all the dialogue in character. The outraged shrieks of those widows still echoe in my mind.<br /><br />Years after the event, the truth came out - Ireson had ordered the Betsy to give aid, but his mutinous crew, fearing for their lives, turned ashore, and saddled Ireson with responsibility. He never attempted to clear his name, despite most of his crew admitting their part.<br /><br />By the time the story reached Whittier, Ireson's nickname had changed from "Flood" to "Floyd".<br />Some years after Skipper Ireson's Ride was published, Charles Buxton Going attempted to set the record straight, but his poem was neither as skillfully rendered nor as dramatic as Whittier's, and Floyd Ireson was doomed to be reviled by literary posterity.Jonathan E. Quisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13334719433572303381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-62138538080832827322010-12-11T11:12:32.736-06:002010-12-11T11:12:32.736-06:00Couldn't agree more - both with the sentiments...Couldn't agree more - both with the sentiments about rhythms sometimes being so beautiful they almost make what they're saying secondary, and with the tricky nature of parody. You've reminded me, too, of C.L. Edson's parody of Poe's The Raven. The rhythms of the original are spell-binding but Edson's take on them is hilarious. If you don't know it, seek it out. It's worth it, I promise you.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-59901719216707128422010-12-09T15:36:00.362-06:002010-12-09T15:36:00.362-06:00Interesting comments, Jonathan. I used to dabble i...Interesting comments, Jonathan. I used to dabble in poetry but haven't for years. I've enjoyed doing parodies and agree they need to be done right. I recall the last three from your childhood list, but the Lear and Whittier poems weren't on my radar back then.Chester Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07155257451021065218noreply@blogger.com