sherlock60 | Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Empty House

Welcome once again to my poetry page!

I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative and then be inspired to write a poem related to it in some way. All forms of poetry are permitted, and further down the page there is a selection you might like to consider using over the coming weeks.

This week my featured form is ekphrasis.

Poetry Foundation gives this definition:

“Description” in Greek. An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. A notable example is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” in which the poet John Keats speculates on the identity of the lovers who appear to dance and play music, simultaneously frozen in time and in perpetual motion.

And so as an example, I thought I would write a poem based on Mr. Holmes’ beautiful bust:

This diffident man takes up so little space—
I can easily put him in his place.
And though I must approach upon bended knee,
At least he takes direction from me.
He nobly accepts his inevitable end
Taking a bullet for a friend.
And I do not think he will be struck with a three year wanderlust:
That is why I wax lyrical about this wax bust.

As always, this is simply something to consider for the future. Any form of poetry is welcome this week—and every week! Here are a few suggestions for you:

221B verselet, abecedarian poetry, acrostic poetry, alexandrine, blackout poetry, call and response, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, colour poems, concrete poetry, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, ekphrasis, elegiac couplet, epigram, epulaeryu, fable, found poetry, ghazal, haiku, lanturne, limerick, lyric poetry, palindrome poetry, riddle, sedoka, septet, sestina, sonnet, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle

Please leave all your poems inspired by The Empty House in the comments on this post. I look forward to seeing them!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hudson

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

scfrankles.livejournal.com

Three years of mourning, thinking Holmes did not survive.
Still, at least his enemies knew he was alive.

thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com

So typical of Mr Holmes!

You have my sympathy, Mrs. H.

laurose8.livejournal.com

Well summarised and well rhymed. Thank you.

Thank you very much ^^

debriswoman

Yep...sums it up:-p

I think so ^^

gardnerhill.livejournal.com

Books,
That shelf?
British Birds?
No thank you, I –
THUD.

Very neatly put!

Thanks!

The conductor of light suddenly feels very heavy ^^"

I like this a great deal - Watson's utterances getting gradually longer and longer before they're interrupted by the abrupt fainting. It works very well. The lanturne is such an elegant little form.

Isn't it though? Try as I could, I just couldn't cudgel a limerick out of the story in time for the prompt.

Really brings the scene to life:-)

Thanks! Edward Hardwick's spectacular faint in Granada's EMPT endeared me to him from his first episode.

Yes, poor lad.

If only the real thing were as obliging as his bust, eh Mrs. H?

Much less trouble all round I'd think!

If only. If only.

A particularly neat last line:-)

I was absurdly pleased with it, Mrs. P.

So was I:-)

The flask of brandy
Comes in handy
To deal with a faint
Or similar complaint

The bottle of sherry
Keeps Mrs H merry
The glass of beer
Gives Lestrade some cheer

But the flask of brandy
Is definitely dandy
A few sips or more
For the client on the floor

The glass of gin
Keeps the anger in

I must say the couplet "A few sips or more/ For the client on the floor" caused me great amusement. But it is all splendid.

Thank you, Mrs H. I was hoping it would appeal to you.

And Imperial Tokay
For reunions, they say.

It appears there are several more verses which could be written ;)

Wonderful:-)
And such a precise title:-p

Thank you. I'm sure there's a name for it (which probably can't be printed in polite company!)

Bound to be:-)

(deleted comment)

Ooooh. So nice. You've a craft for poetry. I've done many a 221b but not yet a rhyming one!

Thank you:-)
Rhyme is surprisingly versatile re word counts.

Excellent! I love the final reference to those particular books.

Thank you:-)

This is so beautiful, and such a clever twist on the 221B form. I love the close-up you give us of Watson's bookcase, which truly is a story of his life. And the ending is perfect and so touching.

Thank you very much:-)

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60 word ficlets for the 60 ACD Sherlock Holmes canon cases

Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Empty House

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