October 26, 2016

Max’s Musings

Moleston-Head-colorBy Max Molleston

If I posed the question “who in the world is Mrs. Mallowan?” there are probably few among you who could come up with a person by that name. Adding the given name Agatha, maybe we would both be closer. If I added Mrs. Mallowan’s family name as a maiden, Christie, then we should be comfortable. As a youngster of early television in Iowa and later as a professional, I learned to appreciate public television and some of its programing. My list held televised, stylized renditions of Agatha Christie. Special fondness for Christie’s Miss Marple and Private enigma and detective Periot, the retired head of Belgian police. Who among you knew of Agatha Christie as a poet? I did and later came by a book of her poems and other literary efforts with no hint, to me, of those fascinating murder mysteries. Her initial work was recognized and published in 1924, titled “The Road of Dreams.” “Poems Agatha Christie” was rolled out in publication in 1965, with the final issue in 1973. The first work is a play, wistful in language and plot titled “A Masque from Italy.” The prologue runs like this to set the scene.

High on the hills and over the plains ,
A thousand years ago,
Hand in hand , and side by side ,
Here with a skip and there with a glide ,
Together we went the wide world through ,
A thousand years ago ,
Invisible spirits throughout the land ,
Side by side and hand in hand ,
Harlequin and Columbine
A thousand years ago !

Our aim is to let you feel some of the thinking and writing Agatha Christie evolved. Over her noted and awarded career, how did the mysteries come forward? Through characters, that’s how. Over decades her characters starred in each of the written and televised series. Newer televised work, purporting to host murder mysteries; deaths of various types, are in the style of Agatha Christie, because of her cunning authorship and subsequent success worldwide. My reference is filled with poetry. Some is obtuse in the style of a long line of English poets. Her longer poems lost my interest. And, the dark side to her poetry. Not that poetry does or should have a dark side, but death , the darkest, is joy and sorrow.

I Wore My New Canary Suit

I wore my new canary suit to go and meet my love,
We talked and talked of everything
In earth and heaven above .
I went again to meet my love,
The years had flitted by,
I wore my old canary suit
To bid my love goodbye.
I took it to a jumble sale
But brought it back once more
And hung it on an inner peg
Within my cupboard door.
I shall not meet my love again
For he is in his grave.
So – I’ve an old moth-eaten suit
And he is young and brave . . .

This is one simple sample of Christie’s work in poetry. To me and perhaps to us the wonder is her mind . Her murder mysteries. Like most other successful authors (writers if you will) Agatha landed on unforgettable leading characters for her plots and these important scribed persons carry the day , and the chapter and the TV episode, time after time. The month in front of us, December, brings an end to the year and beginnings we do not know. Happiness and gifts and pleasure of the Holidays. Join me!

Filed Under: History, Personal Growth

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