Cargoes by John Masefield: Joanna Lumley vs The Likely Lads!

A wonderful poem appreciated in very different ways by two very different sets of people!
(For educational purposes only. I do not own the copyright on either of these two clips from much bigger uploads: Connell Guides 2015 - Joanna Lumley and The Likely Lads movie, 1976. Please contact me if you wish me to remove any content)

[@JoseighBlogs]

Joanna explains and captures so effectively with her delightful rendition this most memorable Masefield poem of my childhood where among a group of primary school aged children at a poetry event reading the lines from "Cargoes' I read the last verse or stanza where we recognised precisely as Joanna identifies in that last verse the staccato needing to be emphasised in its reading. John Masefield Poet Laureate of the time was a close friend of my school's 'Head Mistress'. Thank you Miss Joanna Lumley.

[@jonno52]

My sentiments exactly. "Cargoes" was my introduction to poetry at school in the 1950s. My memory of the first two "exotic" verses was a bit unclear, but the rhythm of the last verse, ending with the "cheap tin trays" is unforgettable. It's odd to think that this poem, with quite a modern feel, was written long before the First World War.

[@bingola45]

"Dirty old ship, sailing in the water, With smoke coming out. Old money on it, shillings and stuff, And all low doors." Little Johnny Masefield. (Age five-and-a-half).

[@carolinerobertson8098]

A wonderful poem by one of Britain's best poets. I also love Sea Fever.

[@G6JPG]

I'm afraid I can never hear Sea Fever without hearing the parody: "I must go back to a vest again, to a winter vest, with sleeves ..."

[@dorothyburwood7722]

I remember reciting this at a poetry competition in the late 50's. Didn't quite get the nuances Joanna did - but I was only nine or so at the time. Lovely to hear it again.

[@annmclucas6207]

Today I wanted someone to get me incense and I said Sandlewood and Cedarwood and it reminded me of Cargoes.I had forgotten the last verse which I discovered meant the most to me. My father was in the merchant navy in those little coasters and was at the evacuation of Dunkirk in a little coaster called the Spinel. As they said back in the day a Robinson boat. All named after precious jewels!

[@christinebrassey7877]

Always remember this Poem from my schooldays. It gave me the same feeling that Joanna describes. A jump from the Ancients to the Romans, then on to the modern day. I wonder how he would have described the 21st Century! The mind boggles! He was such a wonderful Poet.

[@simiralentertainment6934]

If a person who is feeling poetry and he calls some poem perfectly - it is also something as creative act. Beauty will save the world. :)

[@Martin-zx5ip]

I agree

[@timroberts1261]

Christopher Ecclestone did it as a teacher in Hearts and Minds too

[@LiteratureTodayUK]

I know that clip and have uploaded it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2S4iH2HisSqe6c - thanks for the notion...

[@johnmurray8428]

Thank you. Ashmount Primary School circa 1957 revisited. Wonderful reading.

[@user-eq9bj3dk8e]

❤

[@elizabethgee322]

Wonderful

[@raywade6034]

A voice that can suck the marrow from your bone.

[@user-lr1dc5gb2j]

شبيج لخاطر الله شبيجج