Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Final Problem

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Welcome once again to my poetry page!

I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative (though ‘delightful’ is perhaps not the right word this week) and then go on 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.

And here, courtesy of my housemaid Rachel, is this week’s suggested poem to read—a suggestion inspired by the themes and subjects in this week's story. Hopefully you will enjoy the poem, and perhaps it may give you some ideas for a poem of your own or allow you to look at Dr. Watson's story in a new way.



After great pain, a formal feeling comes

by Emily Dickinson



Thank you so much to Rachel. A difficult time but we shall all carry on together.


Here is my suggested form to revisit this week: the renga. (The link takes you back to a previous poetry page.)

But you do not have to use that form. 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, ballad, beeswing, blackout poetry, blues stanza, bref double, Burns stanza, call and response, chastushka, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, colour poems, concrete poetry, Cornish verse, curtal sonnet, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, ekphrasis, elegiac couplet, elegiac stanza, elfje, englyn, epigram, epitaph, epulaeryu, Etheree, fable, Fib, florette, found poetry, free verse, ghazal, haiku, In Memoriam stanza, Italian sonnet, jueju, kennings poem, lanturne, limerick, lyric poetry, mathnawī, micropoetry, mini-monoverse, musette, palindrome poetry, pantoum, Parallelismus Membrorum, poem cycle, quintilla, renga, riddle, rime couée, Schüttelreim, sedoka, septet, sestina, sonnet, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triangular triplet, triolet, Tyburn, villanelle


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


And please do join me next week for my Problem Page and Poetry Corner. All forms of poetry will still be welcome but I will also be answering comments regarding any personal problems. Love, work, household hints—believe me, I have seen and done it all (and if I haven’t, Mrs. Turner definitely has) and I am ready and willing to offer my advice. So feel free to discuss any problem you care to, from Christmas Day onwards!


Warm regards,

Mrs. Hudson

Comments

Clerihew

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Gastgeber* Peter Steiler
Housed English – two good, one viler
Sent one, in innocence, after his prey
Causing all of London to mourn that day


*"Host" in German

Re: Clerihew

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

very nice fresh take on it, one wonders what the innkeeper thought. was he duped too, or in on it?

Re: Clerihew

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

If Steiler had been in on it, I'd think he'd have helped delay Watson more by going along with the "sick Englishwoman" ruse instead of immediately saying "What sick Englishwoman?"

Re: Clerihew

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

A key person in the action, yet little mentioned.

Re: Clerihew

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

He has a lovely scene in the BBC Radio version of FINA, where Holmes deduces where Herr Steiler got his training by how he serves their meals.

RE: Clerihew

[debriswoman]

Nicely done:-)

Re: Clerihew

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I do like 'Steiler/ two good, one viler'.

You do have to feel sorry for Peter Steiler - he insists that Holmes and Watson should head for the Reichenbach falls, and then allows Moriarty to use the hotel writing paper to send a forged letter. The poor man must have felt a certain amount of guilt even though none of this was his fault.

Re: Holmes, Watson and Moriarty had met before...

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

OMG! A tour de force! I love it. It reads like The Grinch that Stole Christmas. So very charming. (And you do like your drunken encounters, no? Or is it like the wrapping presents?)

Re: Holmes, Watson and Moriarty had met before...

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

That last line - poor Moriarty - difficult to be a dramatic mastermind when your arch-nemesis is singing carols badly.

Re: Holmes, Watson and Moriarty had met before...

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

You. Win. The Internet.

This is what would happen if Dr. Seuss wrote a Holmes story! This is hilarious!

Poor criminal mastermind - such an undignified confrontation with one's arch-enemy, goes against all the rules in the Victorian Villain Handbook.

Re: Holmes, Watson and Moriarty had met before...

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

That is just brilliant ^___^

A selection of my favourite lines:

On the ninth of December, he left his dark lair,/ (Even criminal masterminds need some fresh air)

Arch enemies should meet in a scene with more drama/ (With the backdrop, perhaps, of a Swiss panorama)/ He practiced deep breathing and felt somewhat calmer.

He stepped out of reach. "Do you think this is clever?/ Mr Holmes, Doctor Watson, stop now!/ You must never/ Declare I'm your best mate;/ Not now/ And not ever!"

Not a random, unplanned and unarmed drunken brawl./ (That backdrop, again, of a Swiss waterfall ).

And of course that final punch line ^____^

renga (instruments of demise vs. Holmes)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

fury’s whip, us, lash
at the Welbeck Street crossing
demon-mounts, us, flash

my springing for the foot-path
forehorsed the looming blood-bath

atop clayed kin,
aside brother slate, i wait
for shattering wind

my brick-dusted boots, you see,
stem from poor geometry

i fly, fall, head-first
from rough hand to rough ground with
unslaked battle thirst

a common attack, ‘tis said,
an uncommon path ahead

Re: renga (instruments of demise vs. Holmes)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Interesting combination - with the expectation of more to come.

RE: renga (instruments of demise vs. Holmes)

[debriswoman]

Lovely word choice:-)

Re: renga (instruments of demise vs. Holmes)

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Great choice of different voices for the renga - really inspired to use the 'instruments of demise'.

And echoing the applause for your word choices - 'instruments of demise' itself, 'demon-mounts', 'clayed kin'. And I particularly like the lines my springing for the foot-path/ forehorsed the looming blood-bath and atop clayed kin,/ aside brother slate, i wait.

Renga

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Mr Holmes you cause
Me too much aggravation
To be allowed to remain

I shall stop your evil plans
And ensure you are captured

But you fool yourself
I will not let you escape
You cannot flee far from me

I shall leave for foreign parts
And you will not follow me

We meet once again
You will pay for your actions
Here at the Reichenbach Falls

I will gladly give my life
If I take your life with mine

Re: Renga

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Very nice duet. I can imagine them singing it operatic style.

RE: Renga

[debriswoman]

Progresses very neatly and logically:-)

for Ferret

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Fine fellow Ferret
but when it comes to yellow
he cries 'Shan't wear it!'

'I'm not your ripe banana
in unpeeled silk pyjama!'

Re: for Ferret

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

But you would look great
Sitting in the fruit basket
You would be the perfect bait

My furry face is quite cute
And no likeness to a fruit

Rachel's poem

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

A favorite. And most appropriate for this week.

Re ferret and mouselet duet (did not wish to interrupt)

[debriswoman]

*listens in admiration*
This truly cheered me:-)

Re: Re ferret and mouselet duet (did not wish to interrupt)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Delighted to have cheered you. This is what happens when Frankles has to work ;)

Re: Re ferret and mouselet duet (did not wish to interrupt)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

One haiku and a couplet is about my speed on a Sunday. But I am proud of the papaya(er).