Poetry

most of us wrote poetry at school and as adults, perhaps many of us still write it secretly. But this week, we'll hear an interview with Dave Neita who

happily shares his poetry with the world!
我们很多人在学校里都写过诗，但是作为成年人，很多人都私下写过。但是这周呢，我们要听一个采访，被采访者很乐意与大家一起分享他的诗
Poetry

Yvonne:  This is '6 Minute English' and I'm Yvonne Archer¹ - and thanks to Callum for joining me today. Hello Callum! 
Callum:  Hello Yvonne! 
Yvonne:  In today's programme we hear from a poet. But first – Callum, are you any good at writing poetry? 
Callum:  Umm, not really – no – not at all! 
Yvonne:  Well don't worry about it because we've a special interview with someone who is good at poetry. But first, a poetic² question for Callum: Which is

Britain's favourite poem? Is it a) "Oh My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns b) "How Do I love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barratt Browning – OR… c)

"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?" by William Shakespeare 
Callum:  Well I remember this competition but I don't remember the answer. I'm going to go for Shakespeare - "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" because

he's probably our most well known writer. 
Yvonne:  That's a good choice but -we'll find out whether you're right or wrong at the end of the programme. 

Dave Neita is a barrister（律师） – a lawyer who speaks on behalf³ of people or organisations in the higher courts of law. But Dave is also a poet, and in

his interview, he uses the words 'metaphors⁵（隐喻）' and 'symbolism'（象征，记号） – both very useful for talking in English about poetry. Callum – what

can you tell us about 'metaphors'?
Callum:Well 'a metaphor⁴' is a way of describing something or someone by using the qualities of something else. For example, in England we have very cold

wind, it's so cold, we describe it as 'a biting wind（刺骨的风）' – 'a biting wind'. So that's a metaphor; it's not really biting, but we say 'a biting

wind'.
Yvonne: Excellent. And what about 'symbolism'?
Callum: Well 'symbolism' is when we take an object, a shape or even an idea and we use that to represent something else that we want to talk about.
Yvonne: Okay, great! So here's an example of 'symbolism' as used in one of Dave's poems:
DAVE NEITA
Mind the Gap⁶… mind the gap between the rich and the poor If nothing is done, it will extend⁷ even more
Yvonne: 'Mind the gap' is an announcement and a sign that we often hear and see at London Underground train stations. They warn passengers to be careful when

getting on and off trains and platforms because of the space between them. But what does the announcement and sign symbolise in that poem Callum?
Callum: Well here, Dave has used 'mind the gap' – to symbolise the gap or the difference in wealth between rich people and poor people. He's saying that

there's a gap between them and he's giving us a warning that if we're not careful, that gap will get even wider.
Yvonne: So 'Mind the Gap' delivers a message from Dave about poverty.

DAVE NEITA
Mind the Gap… mind the gap between the rich and the poor If nothing is done, it will extend even more
Yvonne: Now as we hear more from him, try to catch the three things he says poetry can communicate – which three things can poetry tell us about?

DAVE NEITA
Poetry can communicate feelings, thoughts and ideas by way of metaphors and symbolism. But poetry can also tell stories and that is the flexibility（灵活性，

柔韧性） of poetry; it lends itself to everyone to do with it as they choose.
Yvonne: Callum, which three things can poetry communicate?
Callum: Dave says that poetry can communicate feelings, thoughts and ideas.
Yvonne: Yes, and we also heard how poetry is flexible so it 'lends itself to' other things such as sending a message, as in 'Mind the Gap' -or even telling a

story.
Before Dave came to England from Jamaica in 1995, he decided⁸ to write a letter to the Queen – except, his letter was really a poem which told his story!

"Letter to the Queen" uses the word 'hospitality⁹' and the term 'short notice'. Callum, what do we mean by them?
Callum: Well, if someone shows us 'hospitality（好客，殷勤）', they make us feel welcome and comfortable. And 'short notice' is if you don't tell people

you're going to do something until just a little bit of time before you do it. So for example, if you ask me to come to the '6 Minute English' studio only

two minutes before we're due to record, you are giving me very 'short notice'.
Yvonne: As if I would! Okay, let's get an extract¹⁰ from Dave Neita's poem "Letter to the Queen"…

DAVE NEITA
When your people come down to Jamaica We treat them like royalty（皇家，皇族） So when I come up to England I'm expecting the same hospitality I don't have

anywhere to stay Because I'm coming up on short notice So please, I'm asking you to fix me up a place inna Buckingham Palace
Yvonne: I wonder whether Dave actually sent the Queen his poem?
Callum: Oh well, I doubt it – because I'm sure he didn't stay at Buckingham Palace when he arrived in England!
Yvonne: No – right. Now let's move on to the answer to today's big question. Which is Britain's favourite poem Callum?
Callum: Well, I wasn't sure. I guessed that it was "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?" by William Shakespeare because he's probably our most famous

writer. Was I right – was I right?!
Yvonne: No you weren't – no you weren't! I guessed the same one at first – but anyway. It was actually "How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barratt Browning.

But that's all we've got time for today on '6 Minute English'. Do join us again for more.
Callum: Goodbye!
Yvonne: Goodbye! (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

2 poetic   

adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的

参考例句：

• His poetic idiom is stamped with expressions describing group feeling and thought.他的诗中的措辞往往带有描写群体感情和思想的印记。
• His poetic novels have gone through three different historical stages.他的诗情小说创作经历了三个不同的历史阶段。

3 behalf   

n.利益，方面；支持，赞成

参考例句：

• Ken is not present,so I shall accept the prize on his behalf.肯没有出席，所以我将代表他领奖。
• They fixed on him to speak on their behalf.他们已经确定他作为代表发言。

4 metaphor   

n.隐喻，暗喻

参考例句：

• Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方，我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
• In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。

5 metaphors   

隐喻( metaphor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I can only represent it to you by metaphors. 我只能用隐喻来向你描述它。
• Thus, She's an angel and He's a lion in battle are metaphors. 因此她是天使，他是雄狮都是比喻说法。

6 gap   

n.缺口；间隔；差距；不足，缺陷

参考例句：

• We must see that there is no gap in our defence.我们必须确保我们的防御没有漏洞。
• There is a gap of five miles between towns.镇与镇之间相隔五英里。

7 extend   

v.伸开；展开，伸展；扩大；加大

参考例句：

• Can you extend your visit for a few days more?你能把你的访问再延长几天吗？
• The examinations extend over two weeks.考试持续两个星期。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 hospitality   

n.好客，殷勤；adj.（气候等）宜人，适宜

参考例句：

• He welcomed you to enjoy his hospitality.他欢迎你去做客。
• Thank you for your kind hospitality.谢谢你的盛情款待。

10 extract   

vt.取出，提取，获得，摘录；n.摘录，提出物

参考例句：

• The article was a choice extract from her writings.这篇文章是从她的著作中摘录出来的精粹。
• We can extract oil from olive.我们可以从橄榄中榨油。