Two contrasting experiences this weekend. I spent about half an hour on four of John Coopey's choices in the Desert Island poems thread. Thoroughly enjoyed it - excellent poems. But after half an hour I'd had enough.

This afternoon, I had a wonderful time clearing, hacking back and digging at the big overgrown garden I've just taken over to use as an allotment, After three hours I still wanted more.

How common is this? Poetry is important for all of us on WOL. But how common is it for even those for whom poetry is important to have limited stamina for it, as compared to other enjoyed activities?

And can anyone report enjoying a marathon poetry reading session?

no

Wouldn't want to. How many lines are needed to put over a poem in an
individual sense - and for that
matter, oollectively as well.
Like many of life's pleasures: best
enjoyed in moderate doses.

I guess for me it's maybe a couple of hours. But, like a good meal, it needs digesting - perhaps subconsciously. I wouldn't want to sit and eat/drink all day; just until I feel "full." Same with words. That doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it though . . .

(I toned that down a bit - I was going to compare it to something else . . . )

And there was me imagining you at it all night Anthony... a copy of the Nation's Favourite Poems in your hand...

I don't have much free time - spend far too much time on WOL - what's left over gets spread meagerly between the kids and housework. I like to read poetry until I feel satiated - how long that takes depends on my stamina on any one day - often depending on how much sleep I've had.

Sorry for my flippant comment earlier - I think I wrote it in the wee hours...

I like to use poetry as foreplay to prolong the pleasure. But I make sure I always have a few Limericks on the tip of my tongue in case I get to the punch line to quickly!

This comment of course was said with tongue-in-cheek!

Whose and which cheek?

Oh dear - I fear we are back to bums again :0

My own tongue and my own cheek of course!

I couldn't contemplate anything else being the son of a priest!
But i have heard of a few dirty habits though.

It always rears it ugly head, doesn't it? It's all those pictures at The Tudor.

Iso, I like your initial comment, two letters made my laugh a lot. I also agree with MCN, best taken in small regular doses. But to answer Dave's question, no I have never done a marathon read. I have ridden my push bike for 24 hrs without a sleep but could not read for that long!However, do I remember rightly that there was a marathon poetry read on a Manchester radio station (There were many poets however). Good thread Dave. Win x

Kipling's "If" was my favourite. But now the pages are stuck together.

If only you'd enjoyed Kleenex...

With icing from his cakes!