Cleo_Serapis
Jan 1 05, 10:08
Welcome to another poetry exercise! I find this poem particularly fit for the words depict images to me of the recent Tsunami disaster in Asia.
Your task:
Create a response in keeping with the same theme presented in the following poem by John Donne published in 1624:
For Whom The Bell Tolls
John Donne
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Good luck! Please post your response here as a 'reply' to this thread.
~Cleo 
(TC 0255 AB - 01/01/2005)
An Island of Questions
by TC
No such thing as Society?
Then why do we mourn
our unrelated dead?
Why do we care for others’
welfare, health and joy?
Imagine an island:
You’re alone with
all life’s comforts:
air, water, food,
shelter, exercise.
Paradise?
How long before
you yearn for
another’s company?
Plead for a human voice?
Shout for an arm of comfort?
Despair for want of discourse?
None of us take life’s trek
entirely alone... how could we?
Our navigation would drop
us off the side of the World.
Our island would be a black hole
amid the vacuum of spacial eternity.
No politician can legislate against
human nature. No one should try,
for leadership needs followers.
Such a thing is society.
Notes:
Dedicated to Baroness (Margaret) Thatcher, British Prime Minister 1979-1990. For it was she who told us that there was no such thing as society. Had she remained in power a few more years, the UK would have proved her right.
Cleo_Serapis
Jan 1 05, 13:17
BRAVO James!
Well done and a thought-provoking response you have made as well! 
Cheers!
Cleo 
Thank you very much Lori,
It was written quickly (as can be seen from the time-stamps on your original posting and my effort) so will need further revisions (i.e. it's not Donne* yet!) so I very much appreciate your comment.
I have added a dedication as part-explanation.
James.
*Pun - John Donne's name is pronounced almost as "John Done." Ouch, sorry. (Gets really bad when one has to explain one's awful puns as well as one's verse!)
Dear Jox,
What a cow - having to explain one's dun jokes ....
Love
Alan
PS Crit next time round.
James, that's a wonderful effort - how dependent we are on our fellow man (or woman).
Alan, is that 'crit' in your PS a typo (should be 'cringe'?). :angel:
Fran 
Fran, thank you very much indeed. Kind and encouraging, as always.
Alan - No crit on this thread, I fear but I'll put it in for crit sometime - maybe after more refining and I shall very much appreciate your help then. In the meantime, a pat on the back to you, too :)
Now, how about so more poems for this tile (thread)? Come on all...
James.
FOR WHOM THE BELT BUCKLES
(With apologies to John, Un-Donne)
No man is an island;
entire continent more like.
Each piece of this continent
a part of the main flesh.
If a clod be washed up by the sea
one’s portliness is the more;
a more prominent port, as it were,
than even of thine portly friend’s.
Fortunately, other men’s girth diminishes me
for I am compared to all mankind,
therefore, send not to know
for whom the belt buckles :
it's unbuckled, for me ....
Alan McAlpine Douglas
Alan,
Excellent parody; I enjoyed it - but what was it a parody of...
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" or "The Waist Land"?
James.
Dear Jox,
I'd say Thank you, but I'm much too busy rolling around on the floor saying Oooooooowowowowowowowowo !
The Waist Band, indeed !
Love
Alan
I had this little snippet lying about and thought that it might fit in here.
Donne's Law
A man I never met has died.
My friend, his friend, mourns him
And I am bound to grieve.
The ripple of his passing touches me,
In death his shade nudges my elbow
As if to say,
We are all one. We are all we.
Friend to a friend is friend to me.
JJ
JJ, that is beuatifully in keeping with the spirit of the original.
Fran
Thank you, Fran. It was something written a while ago and when you directed me here it seemed to fit. Thanks for the read.
JJ
Cleo_Serapis
Feb 21 05, 10:41
Well done JJ!
:pharoah2
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