Really glad you think so - that's it's of some, even if tiny, use.

Ah thank you, @harlowstanza.bsky.social

I need to redraft this slightly and I'll submit to the poems for Palestine publication you alerted me to.

🙃

Actually don't think I will, now, Julian, but it's enjoyable to do the promptcomboing "just" as a reader sometimes.
Perhaps a hyphen is required there to prevent the misconception that a new dance has been invented.

Truly beautiful love poetry, Julian. Indeed, we fixate on "occasion" dates, but which are the truly momentous ones? The lines, "Even the birth has shrunk as the utmost date, the love already decided" answer that question in this instance.

Favourite line is the red, white and blue collective noun.

His altruism I only found out about after he died. The documentary with A Ridgeley is really good isn't it.

Really great lyricist, yeah. And so many vocal performances I'll never tire of hearing. He had the loveliest smile as well.

Very apt poem for right now.

Indeed it is! On that note, have you seen The Hives are touring?
Check out their support - a yard act to follow.

🤣

Riiiiiight! I love that you used a song - and that song in particular, as I can see how apt it is - as part of the inspiration and as a layer of foundation for your poem. Thank you for the insight into your process of creation here.

I would be happy to say, yes, it's either and/or both of those things!
Grown-ups' rimetime 😀

John, this is a lovely poem, albeit filled with melancholy and now, having read your introductory note after I read the poem, the bittersweetness is that bit sharper.
Each Persephone return brings a songlike refrain. In fact I can hear these the whole lot as songlines. Is this a terza rima?!

This is a wonderful poem I enjoyed being read and responded to on the Poetry Unbound podcast.

There's still plenty to unpack from it on rereadings as well, I know.

You're a bloody incredible reader / performer of your poetry, Paul.

The inevitable consequence of the shit hitting it. 🙃