It’s a rickety, rollicking ride I’m on
Reading Uncle’s “Our Mutual Friend”
On the tide of the Thames as it rolls along
Dragging me in its mysterious wake
With Veneerings and Rimtys and inspectors
That lurk behind the John Harmons, who as easily
Could be: the Annikovs or Huangs, or Pillais
Or Chandras hawking rumors by the Ganges
In the myriad scenario of humanity’s flow
From the pen of a master storyteller, caught
In the blood-spun net of familiar lives
Of desperation, pathos, or tartuffery
Spent on the banks of labyrinthian rivers
That wend to shores around the world
And stay to balance on my fingertips.

Your poems on the master story tellers story are like the master story teller himself 🙂 Great work.
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I’m always overwhelmed by your kind comments, Rose, thank you! And do you know, rediscovering Dickens through this novel is really like visiting an old friend and realizing you’ve stayed away too long. Fun catching up though 🙂
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yeah … think I am overdue on a visit to those old classics … might be much more fun reading them now !!
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Sometimes I think that classics are wasted on school kids. They take on so many more lovely hues when you’ve lived and matured even a little, as if their maturity is affected by yours.
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So true. We are too young to appreciate them .. and they become just another textbook to get through.
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I love Dickens, but I’ve never read this novel: makes me want to dive right in!
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It’s one of his best, I think. I don’t know why it’s not talked of as much, but it engrossed me at the time. I think you’ll like it. :>)
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I love this line especially: ‘caught
In the blood-spun net of familiar lives’- Captivating!
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Thank you, Linda. Glad you liked it!
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Such a wonderful , flowing summary of the book, Dora. It’s wonderful to get so caught up in a story, isn’t it?
Another blogger, Derrick Knight, has been reading Dickens and occasionally publishing scanned images, wonderful sketches by Charles Keeping (?) from his folio books. He did Our Mutual Friend recently.
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That sounds wonderful. I’ll have to look him up. Thank you, Merrill, glad you enjoyed it!
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You’re welcome!
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The last line drew me back into the poem for a second read and I’m glad I did. I haven’t read Dickens for a while but I may try and find a copy of this, inspired by your poem.
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I’m so glad. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed at all. 😀
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That was very clever in many ways, the topic/theme, and location, as while as style. Well done.
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Thank you, Ain. I appreciate your kind comments!
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The river of story winds through us all, but the masters of boat-craft can so render the universal in the particular. I love the supple flow of it, the oaring which picks up “in media res” so we come to mid-river and in full glory. Loved it, a choice weave of a poem.
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Thank you so much, Brendan, for those generous comments! Very kind of you.
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You picked up on the Dickens vibe, and created a lovely and interesting literary jaunt. I was an English Major for a time, but I did not really connect with literature until Steinbeck, Howard Fast, and Assimov.
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Thank you, Glenn. I’ve never read Fast’s Spartacus but been in the back of my mind. Bet you’re enjoying the Foundation series on Apple TV 😀(Haven’t seen it yet myself)
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Sounds like quite the read to inspire such writing, loved the ending, classy writing ❣
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Thank you, Tricia. 🧡 Every once in a while I get in the mood for something Dickensian. 😀
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Love the rhythm and summary from the pen of a master storyteller. What an exciting ride!
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Thank you, Grace! 🧡
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An amazing poem Dora! Well done!
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Thank you so much, Dwight!
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You are welcome!
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The Victorian era–or as the poem points out–any location or setting well-drawn from “bloodspun lives” puts the human into our view as seen through these Dickensian specs–I love tartuffery and the lines that surround it, the skillful use of all those proper names, and the cohesion and progression of the poem in general. A pleasure to read.
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Thank you so much, H. It’s hard not to be effusive when it comes to Dickens.
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Humans are ever human, no matter the time or place. Dickens knew. I think I’m due for some rereading myself. (K)
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He was a master observer as well as storyteller. I’m never disappointed when I go back to a Dickens.
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Wonderful!!! ‘Balanced on my fingertips’ feels like Dickens … cheers and happy weekend.
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Many thanks, and Cheers, Helen! Have a good one!
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Methinks I need to revisit Dickens. You take us there quite welL!
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Thank you, Beverly. He never disappoints.
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I love this concept, of relating the book to us, and your experience of reading it, the two intertwined in poetry, me reading of your reading…
~peace, Jason
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Thank you, Jason.
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