Remember, remember...

The fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

I’ve been trying to find out who wrote the English folk verse reminding us of Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, but to no avail. The poem appears in various forms, but the key lines have survived the centuries intact. In America the same poem is probably now best known for its use in the V for Vendetta film.

It may not be quite so catchy, but ShopCurious’s Poet in Residence, Matt Bryden, has come up with a curiously thought provoking new poem for Bonfire Night:

In the Field of Les Feux d’Artifices

The difference between les gants and les mitaines

is the space accorded each finger.

A warden tends the blaze of stacked pallets. They give

against each other with the emission of heat.

People disperse and we approach the tether,

regaining our lost degrees through proximity.

I hold a can in my hand,

my jacket holds another.

The light is one with the music –

a blur, momentarily focused as we pause.

Do you?

Timeless trends - poetry

Did you know that it's National Poetry Day in the UK - and the theme for for this year's Poetry Day is heroes and heroines. I thought it might be appropriate to communicate in words, rather than pictures, today.

In my previous life as a City girl, I wrote poetry to alleviate the boredom of my daily commute into work. I'd like to dedicate one of my curious scribblings from yesteryear to the heroes and heroines of poetry around the world...

here goes (blush):

Poems of the lonely

In a moment far away
Written on an envelope
Remembered for a day

Poems in the Underground
Obscure and misconstrued
Posted up above our heads
And daubed with something rude

Poems of our warriors
Steeped in history
In their blood-stained volumes
Preserved for you and me

Poems made by lovers
Secretly at night
Folds of scented parchment
Fade in candlelight

Poems of the inner-self
Rhythms of our time
Mankind’s epic epitaph
Written line by line.

With apologies to any professional poets and those of you who were expecting a blog about fashion, style, or the sort of unique and unusual things you'll find at ShopCurious.

By the way, have you got any poems from the past that you'd like to share?

Do you?