The Ode Less Travelled

This is one of the greatest books I've ever read. I got it a couple of years ago, and it did what it says on the cover; it unlocked the poet within me. It taught me about prosody - the art and craft of versification.
The thing I've always most enjoyed is the craft, the nut-and-bolts, of poetry writing. It's great to come up with stories and ideas, but the deepest pleasure for me comes from fitting those ideas into a form, with the rules and limitations that come with it. And often, the greater the limitations, the more fun it is.
It's all about pushing against the boundaries of the form, without breaking them. Some of the forms I learned about in the book are very limiting. The Sestina for instance. I won't try to explain it here. It's complicated. As it says in the book, the best way to understand it is to write one, but if you're interested, check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sestina (next week's post will be a Sestina).
'Old Moon', the first poem in this blog, is a Rondeau Redouble. 'Galdr Song' is composed of five sonnets. This marvellous book taught me how to write them.
I'd been penning poems for many years before I got the book, but reading it awoke in me my true goal;
to investigate the technology of poetry, to be a craftsman.
Of course, another wonderful thing about The Ode Less Travelled, is that it's written by Stephen Fry.
One couldn't wish for a more genial teacher. His mellifluous tones spill from every page.
It goes with me everywhere. I highly recommend it. Hooray for Stephen Fry!

Galdr Song: Part Two

Please Click on the images to enlarge the pages.

Russell's Curio Corner #1

Howdy all!

Just a quick introduction from me:  I do the drawings and paintings. 

About 13 times in the course of a year it is my duty to talk a bit about the picture-y side of the Annals.  The whole process starts with Phil sending me a poem, either finished or un.  Often, he’ll also give me a few supporting descriptions of this or that, but a lot of the pictorial direction is derived directly from the text.  Often, I’ll have to look stuff up, read a bit of history and look at a bit of art.  Then, I whip up a slew of sketches and send them Phil’s way.  Then, we talk a bit about the sketches and I shoot out a another slew of sketches and little by little I get down to finished drawings.  I’m hoping that through my annual 13 posts, I’ll be able to share some sketches, some research, some process, some of the stuff you wouldn’t get to see if you were only given a polished and edited version of the work.  I think the process is quite interesting and sometimes, some of the early, unused sketches are interesting on their own. 

I’ll also do my best to help answer any questions people may have.  Since I do a whole lot of research I stumble across a whole lot of interesting things and often, they aren’t directly relevant to what is going on at the time, but if I find something really really interesting and can’t justify it in the work itself, I might just throw it in here…out of interest. 

Well, without any further ado:

Sutton Hoo

I'll save some of the sketches for a little later (sorry).  Most of the sketches I'd like to share might give a few details away earlier than we'd like, so I'll talk about the research side of designing the banner up there at the top.

Oseberg

Now, those of you who hail from the British Isles are probably aware of the finds at Sutton Hoo (and let's not forget our Norwegian friends!  I've used the Oseberg burial as well), but there may be a few of you who would respond, "Sutton who?"  Well, one of the wonderful resources I continue to draw from is a great little book about Viking burial finds (predominantly Sutton Hoo, in Suffolk, (I found the little gem in a charity shop in Chichester for 50p, the book that is)).   Quite a bit of the style of design has made its way into almost everything I've drawn/designed for Phil's poems.  So, I welcome those of you who don't know about Sutton Hoo or Oseberg, or would just like to revisit the info at the wonderful Wikipedia.

(The copyright to all photos belong to their respective owners.)

Galdr Song: Part One

Welcome to the Word-Hoard part 2

Hi there and welcome to The Annals of Old Moon.

Let me tell you a bit about it.

This is the Word-Hoard, a poem cycle concerning beasts and gods, magick and myth, savage evils and inhuman beauties. It's inspired by my love of nature first and foremost, but also of North European mythology, the old sagas, prehistory, and folklore. My idea has been to extend and elaborate upon familiar (and some not so familiar) ideas and concepts and breathe a new life into them. The poems tell of an ancient time, one that is dominated by animals, but is also peopled by the old gods of the North.

The animals are at the heart of it. Ruled by Fireya, the White Dragon Queen, they comprise the Aristocracy of Beasts. Otter and fox, cormorant and wolf, eagle and stag, they all bow their heads at the court of the Queen of the Earth.

There are other creatures too. Older, darker beings that walk the world no more, lost in the mists of extinction (You'll meet such a one in the coming weeks).

And there are monsters dwelling in the depths of the Word-Hoard. Foul things no one would wish to meet (but meet them you shall).

Then of course there's Old Moon, the hare. He is the Teller, the keeper of the Word-Hoard. An ancient and frail creature now, he once was Duke Moon, honoured at the court of Fireya.

His final task, laid upon him by his queen; to lay these tales before you.

Take him by the paw, and he'll lead you back and back to a forgotten world...

So that's the Annals of Old Moon. I've been writing it for six years now and I've hardly scratched the surface.

A year and a half ago I met Russ, whose vision and talent has imbued the poems with a wonder and depth that my words alone could never convey.

Our dream is that one day you'll to be able to hold the Annals in your hands and turn the pages.

This website is a step toward realising that dream.

We hope you enjoy The Annals of Old Moon.

Any feedback and comments will be greatly appreciated.

And please share it on if you like what you find.

Thanks for visiting!

Phil

Welcome to the Word-Hoard