Comments on: Only the Tide http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/ Poetry of Rob Radcliffe Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:12:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: ian roberts http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-14026 ian roberts Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:59:24 +0000 http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-14026 thank you for your beautiful poem. they were my best friends. has brought a tear to my eyes. if you only knew how beatiful those people are, ian roberts(ernie) thank you for your beautiful poem. they were my best friends. has brought a tear to my eyes. if you only knew how beatiful those people are,
ian roberts(ernie)

]]> By: Rob http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-70 Rob Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:57:34 +0000 http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-70 Natalie, That is the response I would have hoped for... I was in two minds whether to put it on my site, as I was aware that people close to the events might stumble across it - and it's often very difficult to write about events in other people's lives without a sense of intruding, of writing about things that should not be the business of a complete stranger. I am glad that you understood it in the spirit in which it was intended. Take care Rob Natalie,

That is the response I would have hoped for… I was in two minds whether to put it on my site, as I was aware that people close to the events might stumble across it - and it’s often very difficult to write about events in other people’s lives without a sense of intruding, of writing about things that should not be the business of a complete stranger. I am glad that you understood it in the spirit in which it was intended.

Take care

Rob

]]> By: Natalie Yates http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-69 Natalie Yates Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:59:41 +0000 http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-69 I came across this poem and just wanted to express that, although the memorial rock is intended to make other boat users take more care and be aware that the sea is such a powerfull force that should never be taken for granted, i am glad that it inspired such a heartfelt piece of writing, it conjoured up many emotions in me of that fatefull night, you have captured them and written them so beautifully that i had too smile through my tears and remembered my brother, for the fun loving, thrill seeking and un-fearfull lad he was. It is truly wonderfull to know that people do take notice and he, along with his friends will truly never be forgotten, for that I thank you. I came across this poem and just wanted to express that, although the memorial rock is intended to make other boat users take more care and be aware that the sea is such a powerfull force that should never be taken for granted, i am glad that it inspired such a heartfelt piece of writing, it conjoured up many emotions in me of that fatefull night, you have captured them and written them so beautifully that i had too smile through my tears and remembered my brother, for the fun loving, thrill seeking and un-fearfull lad he was. It is truly wonderfull to know that people do take notice and he, along with his friends will truly never be forgotten, for that I thank you.

]]> By: Room without doors http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-44 Room without doors Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:40:50 +0000 http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-44 I loved this poem, especially the imagery which is full of unexpected poetry with a kind of timeless sense. I especially liked the lines: As I walk with their voices Carrying on wind and wave. I loved the originality of these lines how they melt with the landscape, really strong and vaunting. The third stanza is my favourite with a sense of the mother weeping at the loss, that the people who lost their lives were part of families and a community especially the lines: And the countless weepings here In dark with a mother's grief Or a father's rage and the waves' The internal rhyme rage and waves strengthens this stanza. I liked the vision in these lines and how the stanza melted together full of poetry. In the forth stanza we get a sense of the intensity of life and their simple pleasure and their enthusiasm for life make even more of a contrast with the last line: When the end sent broken bodies to shore. This brings the reality, the loss more poignant as we see them enjoying the day and then the sudden emptiness, that sense of loss that is a theme through out the poem. I thought the last stanza finished the poem well with a positive message and sense that they lived their lives to the full, that life is lost but not forgotten. I thought this poem was outstanding with an over all sense of loss but some very beautiful imagery, especially of the sea. You have created a haunting poem with a sense of depth and sensitivity and respect. A very fine poem to read. I loved this poem, especially the imagery which is full of unexpected poetry with a kind of timeless sense. I especially liked the lines:
As I walk with their voices
Carrying on wind and wave.
I loved the originality of these lines how they melt with the landscape, really strong and vaunting.
The third stanza is my favourite with a sense of the mother weeping at the loss, that the people who lost their lives were part of families and a community especially the lines:
And the countless weepings here
In dark with a mother’s grief
Or a father’s rage and the waves’

The internal rhyme rage and waves strengthens this stanza. I liked the vision in these lines and how the stanza melted together full of poetry.
In the forth stanza we get a sense of the intensity of life and their simple pleasure and their enthusiasm for life make even more of a contrast with the last line:
When the end sent broken bodies to shore.
This brings the reality, the loss more poignant as we see them enjoying the day and then the sudden emptiness, that sense of loss that is a theme through out the poem.
I thought the last stanza finished the poem well with a positive message and sense that they lived their lives to the full, that life is lost but not forgotten.
I thought this poem was outstanding with an over all sense of loss but some very beautiful imagery, especially of the sea. You have created a haunting poem with a sense of depth and sensitivity and respect. A very fine poem to read.

]]> By: Rob http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-41 Rob Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:24:44 +0000 http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-41 Thanks Louise. This was a hard poem to write, as it was based on a very intense emotion at the time for me, one of those things that simply grabs me from time to time. Of course with such writings there can be a tendency to lean towards the sentimental, to wallow in the pathos of an event without seeking some form of positive. I felt I had managed to find a balance between acknowledging tragedy and introducing a note of celebration, of subtle joy in the thought of lives, although short, lived to the full. Thanks Louise. This was a hard poem to write, as it was based on a very intense emotion at the time for me, one of those things that simply grabs me from time to time. Of course with such writings there can be a tendency to lean towards the sentimental, to wallow in the pathos of an event without seeking some form of positive. I felt I had managed to find a balance between acknowledging tragedy and introducing a note of celebration, of subtle joy in the thought of lives, although short, lived to the full.

]]> By: Louise http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-9 Louise Sun, 24 Sep 2006 17:54:24 +0000 http://www.poemsblog.com/only-the-tide/#comment-9 I really enjoy this poem as many times as i read it. Despite the subject it retains a lightness reflecting the ultimate sentiment, of a tribute to those who live life to the full. The image of flowers at the beginning and end help this. It touches on several elements, without being cluttered or unfocused, and the mix of grief and joy sees the 2 elements as complementary, rather than entwined. The littoral refs give the continued sway of the ocean and life without being contrived. The poignancy of the poet not knowing the people gives an added sense of the desolateness of the sea somehow - I'm sure if i stoppped to analyse that i could do, but dont feel the need. As an aside, the reference to pebbles as eyes reminds me of a Plath poem (Love Poem i think). Thank you for publishing this. I really enjoy this poem as many times as i read it. Despite the subject it retains a lightness reflecting the ultimate sentiment, of a tribute to those who live life to the full. The image of flowers at the beginning and end help this. It touches on several elements, without being cluttered or unfocused, and the mix of grief and joy sees the 2 elements as complementary, rather than entwined. The littoral refs give the continued sway of the ocean and life without being contrived. The poignancy of the poet not knowing the people gives an added sense of the desolateness of the sea somehow - I’m sure if i stoppped to analyse that i could do, but dont feel the need. As an aside, the reference to pebbles as eyes reminds me of a Plath poem (Love Poem i think). Thank you for publishing this.

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