[ross hamilton hill]

Barb
You're right you really have to wade through Hardy to find the good ones. He was interested in folk music and local history and I think many of his poems are really songs. Also he didn't edit his poems, I had a 'selected poems' book. Even so it's weird, you can read 5 or 10 disappointing, almost trivial poems and then suddenly there's a masterpiece, some are really extrordinary. He was Dylan Thomas' favourite poet.
Worth the wade!!

[Gregory Dowling]

Here's what Larkin wrote about Hardy:

I can't imagine why people say Hardy had no ear. In almost every Hardy poem in the 800 pages, barring one or two about the death of Edward VII and that sort of thing, there is a little spinal cord of thought and each has a little tune of its own, and this is something you can say of very few poets. Immediately you begin a Hardy poem your own inner response begins to rock in time with the poem's rhythm and I think that this is quite inimitable.

I agree with Larkin.

Thanks, Barb, for the links to the old threads. It seems there's nothing we haven't already discussed on this website! But it's always good to have a fresh look at things.

[Barb Hawes]

Colin, thanks so much for the links! I enjoyed both songs. I've added to my list of things to study how melody, rhythm, and poetry fit together. I also am busy comparing "Sonnet (1979)" and "Moriturus" to "The Pine Planters".

Ross and Gregory, I will stay well away from the debate regarding the quality of Hardy's poetry. I did read Larkin's essay which I enjoyed. I will say that when I struggle with a poem, I feel that it is a kind of training that can only expand my understanding of poetry.

[Martin Elster]

Speaking of amphibrachs, you can frequently find them in limericks.

For instance: [there WAS a] [young MAN from] [nan-TUCK-et]