Why I hate poetry

When you open books you often find acknowlegements or dedications. I know that many people don't read these. I do. I read quotes that serve as introductions. I don't LIKE prologues, but I read them in case they have something to say (which quite often they don't). But books that start with poems give me the rash. I hate poetry.

Poetry is all about form. I am all about content.
Poetry is vain. It is pretentious. And it almost always sounds ridiculous when read out loud.

Someone please tell me why it is that we squeeze words in the corset of a dactylus or why anyone would want to do that? And puleeaaasssee don't mention limericks - they are nerve-wrecking!

I allow exceptions to the rule. Very seldom I find a poem that speaks to me. Even more seldom I can hear someone read a poem without starting to itch allover. One of these exceptions is John Hannah reading W.H. Audens "Funeral Blues" in "Four Weddings and a Funeral". I admit to liking that even (but I think half of that is due to the cute scottish accent). My, that was just beautifully done and Hannah so clearly transmitted that well-known feeling of utter hopelessness. If I can like any poetry it would likely be alliterative verse. Or scottish rhyming slang.


But mostly poetry is wasted on me.

Sweet Seventeen

Have you ever been in Love with someone who wasn't real? A movie character, an imaginary boyfriend, a dream lover or a person who is only alive inside a book?
I seem to have a weakness for unreal lovers. I constantly fall for the heroes in my books (not ALL of them - I do have SOME standards, only the really great ones). I am usually embarrassed to admit this, but I don't think I have ever been as embarrassed as I am right now. The latest subject of my infatuation is just turning 17. He is Japanese, sporty (high jump), but rather lanky than muscled, has black hair strands of which have a tendency to hang into his eyes and a rather reserved and quiet character. His name is Izumi Sano and he is the main male act in a very popular shoujo manga named "Hanazakari no Kimitachi e", an english translation has been published under the title "hana-kimi". For you in full blossom."

I am a complete addict to Hana-kimi. Ever since I started reading it, I have to re-read at least one, two volumes every day. This manga series has been on my mind now for about 10 days. I could kiss the postman when he brings the new volumes. I could strangle him, if he fails to deliver. I dream about the characters. Sano is not the only great character. The one I like second best is Umeda, whose humour and sharp wit I enjoy (and just maybe because he is the sexiest adult person in the series, even if he plays for the other team). But Sano has the essence of romance. He induces heartbeat to me like few grown-up male characters. I really enjoy this infatuation with Izumi Sano and "Hana-kimi" while it lasts, although I'm sure the postman will be glad, once I have all 23 volumes in the bookshelf - he must feel haunted. ;-)

Step into Mangaverse

I know. Some people think I should accept that I am too old to read Mangas. I'm not. In western societies Mangas (and Comics and more or less all graphic novels) are frowned upon by educated society. If you can read, why bother with such rubbish.
Let me explain why ...

First of all. It's not rubbish! (Okay, not ALL of it is rubbish ...) Mangas originate in Japan. You read them from the right to the left. They are often series of many volumes. They may have sweet heroines with the typical big dovey manga child eyes. And they are not for children. At least many of them aren't. There are even some mangas that have a very adult theme, like the yaoi Mangas or hentai Mangas.

If you follow my blog, I'm sure to recommend some of my favourite manga series to you. But right now I want to say a general thing about Mangas. Mangas can be serious. Crazy. Sweet. Or Icky. I can love them for their style of drawing. For good characterisation. For a captivating plot. For yummiiieeeh heroes. They are in some ways not so different from books. That is ... if you read for escapism as I do. I have heard that in Japan you can even find cookbooks in manga style. Cute idea, but I think I'll stick to stories.



Western people however have prejudices against mangas and comics that I find really unjustified. Because - as you often find in the case of prejudices - they come from people who know next to nothing about it. In Japan you can find some typical business man reading mangas the size of a telephone directory on the way home from work in the train. Possibly sitting next to a housewife with a manga and a student with another manga. There are mangas for all age classes. And the wide variety of manga makes it really likely that there is also just the right manga waiting for you out there.

About the Magic of Voices

Today I listened to Richard Ashcroft's first Solo album.

Anyone who has ever seen Ashcroft and was wearing their prescribed goggles at the time, knows that he is not ... mildly said ... the model-type. The best you could say is that he looks kind of cool and rock-stary with a face that speaks of too much drink and not enough healthy food and sleep.

Some years ago I saw Ashcroft live at the Grosse Freiheit in Hamburg, Germany. When he came out on stage, I felt like I wanted to have a word with his mother or his doctor and lecture them on how to look after a young man properly.



That is ..
until he started singing. Then suddenly he underwent a drastic metamorphosis on stage. Where just a moment before a too thin and unhealthy looking, far too-pale boy with dark shadows under his eyes had been standing, there was this rather dashing looking guy. By the end of the first song I thought he was beautiful. By the end of the fourth song I had a major crush on him. By the end of the concert I was ready to have his babies.

It is rather fortunate that only few men have the power of a voice that holds such magic for me. Otherwise I would probably have ended as a far too well-known backstage groupie.

Richard Ashcroft's voice doesn't really make me think of old days or love or any other nice thing. It just renders me unable to think at all. My braincells (the few that are left) go into stand-by modus and are replaced by endorphin inducing sound waves. I know of only a few voices that have this compelling magic over me. Ashcroft is the first that comes to mind. I already much admired his voice when he was still lead singer for "The Verve". Thom Yorke is another vocal magician who can reduce my brain to jelly within seconds.

I don't know all that much about music or music theories. What gives one voice such power? Are they simply better singers? Do they know they can do this?

Na, don't expect any answers from ME!!!
Here for you: Richard Ashcroft "Song for lovers" live.