Thinklings

The Thinking Blogger’s award has come round again - and I've been tagged by goodthomas. If there were a Soulful Blogger’s award, his is a name that would come to mind (consider yourself nominated, goodthomas). So anyway, I’m entering into the spirit of the thing. It doesn’t matter that the process allows for almost everyone in the blogging universe to be nominated at some point. It’s a way of giving and receiving appreciation and touching in on new places. For this reason I thought I’d nominate some of the blogs on my list that I don't have so much contact with. In fact a couple of them, unless they have carefully studied their stats, probably don’t even know of the existence of Signs. Hello, if you’re looking in. goodthomas says that I have “the most amazing sensitivity to the nuances in the poetry of life”. Just saying, so you know the kind of person who has nominated you – and so you don’t feel you are wasting your time here. He said it, not me, so I’m not bragging. But let’s talk about you:

Collin Kelley is a poet from Atlanta, Georgia, who not only writes good poetry but speaks them beautifully too (from recordings I’ve listened to). He writes rants, raves, reviews, personal anecdotes and anything that happens to interest him, including American Idol, which I overlook because I appreciate his blog.

Future of my Past is Anna Mr from Finland, whose blog I periodically lurked on, until the great orgasm post which I tuned into when it had well over 100 comments (I take my time, but I get there) for which she kindly, at my request, wrote a resume so I could join in the discussion. She is interesting and takes lovely photographs.

George Szirtes is a poet, translator and intellectual who came to England as a refugee from Budapest in 1958. He is a fine poet and engages my interest in everything he gives his attention to, even football, which I am not interested in.

Shallowlands, “the place where only poets can hear you scream,” is the blog of Ros Barber whose work I love and whose poems live on the page as powerfully as when she speaks them. She writes about her life, work and process and is the real thing: a working poet. She is also doing a PhD on Christopher Marlowe.

Silversprite is the blog of John Kirriemuir who lives on the isle of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. If you love these islands, or want to get the feel of what life might be like there, this is a find. Some wonderful photographs too.

If you would like to carry this on (no pressure!) the rules are:

1. If you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,

3. Optional: Proudly display the "Thinking Blogger Award" with a link to the post that you wrote.

And to the other bloggers, the ones I’ve come to know and appreciate since beginning this in January (you know who you all are): Respect!