One could remix the tale of the Appointment at Samarra with pizza delivery instead of Death, but I’m no PTerry.
rblackadarsays
For me this poem evokes Emily Dickinson 479 — the meter, the 4-line stanzas, and the first sentence in particular. Something of an homage (with anchovies) I shouldn’t doubt.
Tethyssays
I see a lot in common between Poe’s verse, this poem, and some of the oldest examples of verse in the Norse/Anglo Saxon body of literature.
Alliteration on the first two lines, onomatopoeia, the syncopation etc…
I can think of an example that isn’t about death, though it’s true that most of these old storylines are ultimately about death too.
Under the tree, dwell maidens three
At the well within the wood.
Will be the first, Becoming another
The third one is called Should.
~Voluspa
Of course, the next verse describes how they carve into the roots of the tree, and set the fates of all men, so I guess it is about death.
dashdsrdashsays
Scans to “I Want to Give the World a Smile”, or “The Yellow Rose of Texas”.
Tethys says
Ah, distinctly I remember,
it was in the bleak December.
And each separate dying ember,
wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Marcus Ranum says
@Tethys: I always loved Poe.
In case you haven’t heard Christopher Lee read it:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BefliMlEzZ8
Marcus Ranum says
One could remix the tale of the Appointment at Samarra with pizza delivery instead of Death, but I’m no PTerry.
rblackadar says
For me this poem evokes Emily Dickinson 479 — the meter, the 4-line stanzas, and the first sentence in particular. Something of an homage (with anchovies) I shouldn’t doubt.
Tethys says
I see a lot in common between Poe’s verse, this poem, and some of the oldest examples of verse in the Norse/Anglo Saxon body of literature.
Alliteration on the first two lines, onomatopoeia, the syncopation etc…
I can think of an example that isn’t about death, though it’s true that most of these old storylines are ultimately about death too.
Under the tree, dwell maidens three
At the well within the wood.
Will be the first, Becoming another
The third one is called Should.
~Voluspa
Of course, the next verse describes how they carve into the roots of the tree, and set the fates of all men, so I guess it is about death.
dashdsrdash says
Scans to “I Want to Give the World a Smile”, or “The Yellow Rose of Texas”.
chigau (違う) says
Are you dead?
Marcus Ranum says
Would your head explode if I said “yes”?
chigau (違う) says
Probably not.
I’m open to new ideas.