I had the Child's Garden of Verse - maybe our grandparents sent it to us. I thought the kid was a bit of a drip for lying there in bed like that. He's in the Lord Fauntleroy, twee stable.
I am indifferent as to whether the poem precedes the discussion or the reverse. It is little effort to scroll down if I want to do so.
I am intrigued (and pleased, actually) by your use of "gaslight-era" to mean a time before electric lights. Nowadays, "gaslit" usually refers to a person deceiving another person and denying that he is so deceiving. It would be a pity if we lost the original meaning of "gaslit."
Your use of "twee," while perfectly accurate, introduced me to a word new to this American reader. Thanks for that.
If in the story, you can climb aboard a horse-drawn hansom cab on the streets of London, the gas streetlights illuminate misty circles through the fog, then…
For your Wednesday poems it certainly should work, giving people the whimsy first, and the serious stern discussion last. It is always nice to start with dessert, but most people think it should not be so.
Remember well A Child's Garden of Verse from my childhood, it has helped me to remember to be as happy as a king.
I like reading the discussion first. I find that it builds a bit of anticipation for the coming poem and the context helps me to appreciate most poems better than I would without it. That said, I do often go back and reread the discussion after reading the poem, so dpd would work for me.
I do see the value in a poem first order though, so that one's impression of the work is open to personal interpretation, and then enhanced by further information.
Hah! I actually originally thought about doing a paragraph before the poem, then the rest of the discussion after the poem, but, as Sally Thomas pointed out, the minimalistic layout tools available for Substack made that look odd and confusing.
Given that I never read lntroductions to novels until after I've finished the book (but often read them afterwards—I'm not a bad student, just a pigheaded one), I'm fine with having the poem first. When you really get into the structure of the poem, too, it's helpful to have read the poem first for context, but then to read it again with an idea what to look for.
Regardless of where you might have said it, "not the worst of tweedom" made me laugh.
My father exposed me to RLS novels as a boy and I especially loved Kidnapped. This poem rings true still.
Discussion 1st then poem. “Twee” is a perfect descriptor.
I had the Child's Garden of Verse - maybe our grandparents sent it to us. I thought the kid was a bit of a drip for lying there in bed like that. He's in the Lord Fauntleroy, twee stable.
I prefer the poem first.
Opening with the poem is better.
Discussion first. It’s nearly always better than the poem, and nicely “sets the table”. The poem is more enjoyable for it.
I am indifferent as to whether the poem precedes the discussion or the reverse. It is little effort to scroll down if I want to do so.
I am intrigued (and pleased, actually) by your use of "gaslight-era" to mean a time before electric lights. Nowadays, "gaslit" usually refers to a person deceiving another person and denying that he is so deceiving. It would be a pity if we lost the original meaning of "gaslit."
Your use of "twee," while perfectly accurate, introduced me to a word new to this American reader. Thanks for that.
If in the story, you can climb aboard a horse-drawn hansom cab on the streets of London, the gas streetlights illuminate misty circles through the fog, then…
For your Wednesday poems it certainly should work, giving people the whimsy first, and the serious stern discussion last. It is always nice to start with dessert, but most people think it should not be so.
Remember well A Child's Garden of Verse from my childhood, it has helped me to remember to be as happy as a king.
Poem at the end!
Poem first please.
Prefer the poem at the end
Just to be contrary, what about the middle? 😉
I like reading the discussion first. I find that it builds a bit of anticipation for the coming poem and the context helps me to appreciate most poems better than I would without it. That said, I do often go back and reread the discussion after reading the poem, so dpd would work for me.
I do see the value in a poem first order though, so that one's impression of the work is open to personal interpretation, and then enhanced by further information.
Hah! I actually originally thought about doing a paragraph before the poem, then the rest of the discussion after the poem, but, as Sally Thomas pointed out, the minimalistic layout tools available for Substack made that look odd and confusing.
What you do is a boon, please keep it up! Also, as far as I am concerned: poem first.
I like poem first order
Me...four? Poem first. Poem forward, then pondering.
Given that I never read lntroductions to novels until after I've finished the book (but often read them afterwards—I'm not a bad student, just a pigheaded one), I'm fine with having the poem first. When you really get into the structure of the poem, too, it's helpful to have read the poem first for context, but then to read it again with an idea what to look for.
Regardless of where you might have said it, "not the worst of tweedom" made me laugh.
Poem first good!