Stephen Fry - Pans

I searched on youtube, for Stephen fry and Puns, hearing that he did a radio episode on the Subject. Having an unhealthy obsession with the groan-worthy word-play and also having admiration for the man himself, I thought I'd like to hear it... I hoped some kind soul had put it up for people to listen to... Unfortunately they hadn't.

Although on searching for, 'Stephen Fry Puns' youtube enquired if I had actually meant, 'Stephen Fry Pans'.

I was intrigued... Did Stephen Fry have an interest in Cooking utensils and had he done a programme on them? Did he ever do a Comedy sketch ala Vic and Bob where Hugh and Stephen batter themselves with frying pans?

Allowing a cople of seconds for these questions to be asked, I decided I will answer them by telling youtube that I had indeed meant, 'Stephen Fry Pans'. I was then informed that there were no videos containing, 'Stephen Fry Pans'. I'll never get that time back again.

Poetry Off by Heart

One of my proudest Verse-based moments of my life, occurred in Blackrock, Co Dublin. During a reading to children, I was approached by three young girls and told very proudly that the class had learned to read together, ‘Christmas In July’ a poem of mine.

When it came time for me to read this verse I decided to turn it over to them, and get them to read it. To hear my own words read back to me from 30, or so, loud, but young, voices was a wonderful experience and it might have brought a tear to my eye if it wasn’t for this macho image I insist on maintaining and portraying to the world. I was even willing to allow the class to falter on the last two lines, which most seemed to, I was that impressed and pleased, but this was more than one of the young girls, who had told me originally about their learning of the poem, was going to allow them to do. She seemed quite appalled at her faltering fellow classmates and, hands on hips, said the last two lines with more conviction because of it.

I was reminded of this event when viewing the following article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/5369739/More-poetry---please.html

This article deals with the importance of learning verse from heart, and I will be honest it is something I have never thought of before.

I know that my own schooling on poetry was exceptionally weak, the only thing I remember was seeing a television programme that contained Roger McGough and Michael Rosen, two men who I am still in awe of today and after this programme we were told that poetry can rhyme but it doesn’t have to and being asked to write two poems one that did rhyme and one that didn’t. That was the extent of my poetic schooling. Stephen Fry dedicates ‘The Ode Less Travelled’ to a teacher who helped awake his mind to the wonderfulness of poesy… I can honestly say that not one of my teachers will ever get a book dedicated to them.

We were certainly never told, or taught, to learn verse off by heart and it appears that this is still true, according to this article.

I’m not sure how this can be, when there are more organisations, festivals that include young people and push from the media these days then when I was young, but I agree with this article, something still needs to be done.

I travel up and down the Ireland, reading my poems and singing my songs, but only at certain times of the year, ‘Poetry Ireland’ The organisation who are there, apparently, to promote poetry in Ireland does not want me to be part of their ‘writers in schools’ initiative, so roll on the various festivals I’m involved in.

Learn poetry by heart, a wonderful idea, in fact…

Buy my book, learn all the poems so you can read them by heart and as the book is no longer is needed as a book, it can be used as a fan to keep you cool in the, hopefully, upcoming hot weather.

Hear is a video of me reading the poem mentioned above off by heart.

Thank you.

I'm a bit surprised.

As I blogged last month about Jade Goody , I predicted there will be Queen of our hearts type headlines and quotes...

I thought that Princess Diana comparisons would come and I have been proven right... I just didn't expect them to come from Stephen Fry.

In his wonderful book, 'The Ode Less Travelled', he expresses his thoughts about the banality of reality television and modern culture...

I am a bit surprised that he would feel the need to celebrate it then...