[David Anthony]

I loved this poem when I first saw it, but took against the name 'Soc Glasrud', which I did not know: it seemed inelegant.
It still seems so to me, and I'd change the name to give it more universality, unless you've set your heart on a tribute poem.

[Maggie Porter]

As far as elegies go, this is one of the best I've seen lately. It uses words in "risk taking" ways, ah! Vince Wins! Who the hell is Vince? Should I care? No way! I love Vince without knowing who he is and I'm rather glad he won.

The draft horse bit is also a surprising turn of phrase that is quite appealing.

Now, the final couplet:

And when I bear Soc Glasrud to his hearse?
More boots to fill or stirrup in reverse.

Bugger on this poet. What a lark! Stirrup in reverse will you? Bring in that inelegant Soc Glasrud will you?

You've done a good job there. A very Celtic bit of gallows humor that is very finely done here.

[Robt_Ward]

Maggie,

Are you aware that it is traditional, in the funerals of great leaders, for there to be a riderless horse with empty boots stirruped facing backwards representing the fallen leader? Cf. the funeral of JFK, a well-known image of this can be googled up.

So where's the "celtic humor" of that? Am I missing something?

(robt)

[Tim Murphy]

I confess that the Celtic humor also escapes me. Vince wins is an inside joke, Vince having thus spoken of himself in the third person following every triumph at golf, tennis, pocket billiards, or gin rummy. But that's the only whiff of humor in the poem.

[Maggie Porter]

Ah, well I wouldna known that!

I think this is a delightful poem. A real triumph in terms of life. That would be life, the one that left saying, Ah, I've been a bit too self serious haven't I?

[Maggie Porter]

Well done TIM.

[Tim Murphy]

Maggie Porter, Thank you for your generous remarks on my poem. This is a poem which gains considerably from being read in the context of my books, where my father is not only a considerable presence, but also a contributor in the case of Ploughshare. It gratifies me that lacking this context, you like the poem.