If I were young as once I was, and dreams and death more distant then, I wouldn't split my soul in two, and keep half in the world of men, So half of me would stay at home, and strive for Faërie in vain, While all the while my soul would stroll up narrow path,... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “What is So Rare as a Day in June” by James Russell Lowell and “A Vagabond Song” by Bliss Carman
I just happened to be working at Waverley today and got caught up on my E-mail and saw your poetry tree request. This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and I will never forget two of the poems that Miss Kathleen Connor, my 6th and 8th grade teacher at Pine... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “The Tyger” by William Blake
Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites ” Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll
JABBERWOCKY ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!” He took his vorpal sword in hand; Long time... Continue Reading →
Interview with Jon Sprunk
Jon Sprunk grew up in Pennsylvania. When his first fantasy novel failed to find a publisher, he sought gainful employment in the Real World, only to return to writing a decade later. After learning from the Pennwriters annual conference and writers’ group, he had several short stories published. In June 2009 he signed a multi-book... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “Porphyria’s Lover” by Robert Browning
The rain set early in to-night, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, And did its worst to vex the lake: I listened with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria; straight She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
To His Coy Mistress Had we but world enough and time, This coyness, lady, were no crime. We would sit down, and think which way To walk, and pass our long love’s day. Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of Humber would complain. I would Love you ten... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned out backs, And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “If” by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling 1865–1936 Our Chief Librarian, John Pateman has chosen 'If' by Rudyard Kipling "because it is inspirational for when times are both good and bad." If By Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when... Continue Reading →