Friday, May 05, 2006

Poetry Friday 3

Continuing the Spring poetry theme, I do like this poem by A E Housman.

Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.


* * * * * *

On the topic of children's books, The Guardian reports that

a clash of titans in one section of the world's leading children's book prizes was offset yesterday by an invasion of relatively ungarlanded talent in the other.

Four out of five names in the shortlist for the Carnegie medal have won the award before. But none of the eight finalists for the £5,000 Kate Greenaway illustrators medal have held it previously.

The awards - uniquely, administered and judged by librarians - are more internationally respected than any others for the age group. The Carnegie, which was founded 69 years ago and carries no prize money, has been won in the past by authors ranging from Eleanor Farjeon to Noel Streatfield and C S Lewis.

Apparently The Guardian's John Ezard doesn't know that whilst Eleanor Farjeon's name is pronounced "Farjohn", it's not actually spelt that way, but then, this is the paper that was so famous for its typos that it's still referred to by many people as The Grauniad ! However that's another matter. The full details about the two awards shortlists are in the report linked above.

6 comments:

Kelly said...

Oh, that's funny about the Guardian, Michele! They do have good articles sometimes, though, despite the typos.

Anonymous said...

Have you read any of the Carnegie nominees, Michelle? I haven't - not even sure how many of them are available over here. Jan Mark is nearly always good, though I have enjoyed her lighter, younger books, like _Thunder and Lightnings_ more than her SF. Any opinions about who will/should win?

Michele said...

Kelly, yes they do have some interesting articles. I confess I still refer to the paper as "The Grauniad"; I don't think they ever did put the paper out with a typo in its name, but I can't swear to that !

Debbie, I've only read Geraldine McCaughrean's The White Darkness and therefore I want it to win ! But it's an absolutely brilliant book, and responsible for introducing me to McCaughrean's work - which it's been a pleasure to discover and read. I've just finished re-reading A Pack of Lies this week, and I've got The Stones are Hatching at hand to re-read. I bought both and I don't buy books lightly these days since I'm lacking in both spare cash and space to put them !

Anonymous said...

I know the feeling - I'm going to have to be very strong-minded when I visit the UK. The last time I was there I went to Hay-on-Wye, and also a marvellous children's bookstore in Cambridge and spent way too much money. I had to have things shipped home because I couldn't carry them :) I will look for the McCaughrean in our library, though, as they usually do get her books.

Michele said...

Ooh you lucky thing ! I've never been to Hay on Wye yet (it's rather difficult to get to via public transport !) - mind you, it's probably just as well that I don't go until I move out of this attic, or there wouldn't be any space for anything else in this room !

If you search my Blog, you'll find reviews of several of McCaughrean's books lurking about since late December (assuming you've not read them already!)

Michele said...

So would I love to go during the Hay on Wye Literary Festival ! Probably safest if I never go there, though !