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Photo Credit: BMW PR
I'm going to admit it! I Like Poetry...!
I miss my pre-Covid days where I would often find myself in various private clubs, seated in an armchair with other learned men (some with a cigar, some with whiskey, and some with both a cigar and whiskey) and where we would discuss literature, poetry, the news, and of course watches. Yes! I am that boring! Unfortunately, those days are obviously much rarer now due to COVID.
Many of you know I am a fan of poetry and that it's effective upon me when poetry is used in marketing videos...
Here's a poem from John Lobb shoes...
A Singular Journey
I am the stranger. The path is my story.
I walked the twisted miles towards my dream.
I walked the grey path of shadow and glory.
The granite moorland and the moorland stream.
I walked the twisted miles towards my dream,
Undaunted as I climbed hopes granite tor.
The granite moorland and the moorland stream,
They drew my steps towards a distant shore.
Undaunted as I climbed hopes granite tor,
I saw far clouds of lightning at the dawn.
They murmured I would walk for evermore.
Born with no future, my future was born.
I am the stranger. The path is my story.
I walked the twisted miles towards my dream.
I walked the grey path of shadow and glory.
The granite moorland and the moorland stream.
I walked the twisted miles towards my dream,
Undaunted as I climbed hopes granite tor.
The granite moorland and the moorland stream,
They drew my steps towards a distant shore.
Undaunted as I climbed hopes granite tor,
I saw far clouds of lightning at the dawn.
They murmured I would walk for evermore.
Born with no future, my future was born.
If this is familiar, it might be because I posted this back in 2015...
Here's a poem about an AMG car from Mercedes-Benz. A few WatchProSite members own this car and tell me it's superb. I don't own the car, but I do like the poem!
And of course, I cannot forget Jaguar's GORGEOUS. I'm not really a Jaguar client. But that poem and video was definitely cool, although too cool for me (way above my head).
And most recently is the BMW i4's poem...
Poetry is so often considered a strange and esoteric topic. It's almost a little snobby to discuss it and it's against current convention to be "down to earth" in our behavior. But so much of our lives actually comes from poems. So many of our idioms and phrases are from poems. So many of our little metaphors come from poems... I guess in a world of smiley faces and acronyms like LOL, poetry does take a backseat. But that doesn't mean it should always take a backseat! When I meet a cool poem in an advertisement, I applaud that PR team. They took a risk, and it might not pay off with everybody, but I noticed it and I probably liked it! I guess that PR team took the road less traveled! Yes, I'm referencing that Robert Frost poem that every child in the USA has to read in grade school.
Now, when is anyone going to write some clever watch poetry?
Photo Credit: BMW PR
The Jaguar and the Mercedes for me. Gorgeous cars, indeed. And great videos!
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The Question Has Always Been...
... And always shall be ...
ICON Derelict - All Electric Dual-Motor Powertrain and Transmissionless Design Delivers a Mind Blowing 470lbs of "Freight Train" Torque, Which is Equal to 400 Horsepower!
With A Top Speed of 120 MPH, This Jalopy Sports an Over 200 Mile Range, Even at Full Throttle.
WHAT MOVES YOU?
ICON Derelict - All Electric Dual-Motor Powertrain and Transmissionless Design Delivers a Mind Blowing 470lbs of "Freight Train" Torque, Which is Equal to 400 Horsepower!
With A Top Speed of 120 MPH, This Jalopy Sports an Over 200 Mile Range, Even at Full Throttle.
Photograph courtesy of ICON 4X4, Chatsworth, CA
- Scott
- Scott
Poetry or cars both move me; figuratively and literally. But Poetry AND CARS now that's really cool!
That's a beautiful Mercury up there! What a machine!
I like poetry. Haven't read any in years, seems like,
but certain lines will always stay with me. I guess it's like that for a lot of people. The power of language, images, sound. What I'm not fond of, though, is getting poetry to work, to sell products, make money. When it does, for me it's not poetry anymore, it's merely effective copy. Isn't it the beauty of poetry, part of its allure and power, that it doesn't have to do anything? Unlike (most of) us, certainly unlike me. No mission, no assignment, no job? Being there is all there is to it. Making poetry earn money is weighing it down, drowning it.
Ladies and gentlemen: my two cents.
Cheers Marc
Ladies and gentlemen: my two cents.
Cheers Marc
It is indeed "effective copy."
But "effective copy" can be not poetic, or it can be poetic. I prefer the latter! But you're right, when poetry is commissioned for selling a product or utilized to sell a product, it does kind of reduce its meaningfulness, at least temporarily. Still, I find it clever. Even if it's not entirely meaningful.
Ratskunk has a haiku contest on timezone each year.
I entered one year and won with a haiku about a Breguet. The prizes were a stuffed animal moose and a timex.
Hmm... That's cool.
The brands are a little bit against these kinds of contests these days... Unfortunately! The problem is that the giveaway item has to come from central corporate, not a "North American" or "European" subsidiary. Because if someone in Australia wins the contest, the North American department doesn't want to supply the prize, since it is not likely to benefit them. And on WatchProSite, we're so international that we aren't going to say "the prize can only be won by someone in a specific region."
Patrick, since you asked...
... here is something in limerick format
Ode to a New Millenary (with lots of poetic license)
A renowned watch brand called AP,
Famous for the octagonal shapy,
Made something divine -
Code eleven fifty nine
But the fans were all quite unhappy.
But then they release it in Chrono,
With fume and the critics said “oh no”!
But lo and behold,
Each one was quick sold,
Especially the beauty two tone-o.
So now that thing have been sit right,
The fans hope that AP just might,
Give us something oval,
And maybe two tonal,
With a face either salmon or white.
Very good. Very funny too! It's a tongue and cheek!
You should post this in the AP forum with a photo of the AP 11.59 Chrono!
Thanks Nico and Patrick...
... not serious poetry. Just good lowbrow humour 
My favorite piece of serious poetry is The Waste Land by TS Eliot. Very evocative but needs studying
My favorite piece of serious poetry is The Waste Land by TS Eliot. Very evocative but needs studying
Hey Patrick thank you for such a touching post…
I watched all your videos and I do love poetry, it says so much in so little words but of course you must take the time to read them and the time to understand their true meaning.
Unlike today’s short acronyms, copied signatures and all similar things poetry stands out by itself and in itself is very special… Jim
Thank you for commenting Jim!
Indeed. Poetry can have very deep meanings and their meanings evolve over time. Poems that I read as a child had a very different meaning than when I read them today. And I'm still catching up on all these short-hand acronyms. People say that since I live in Silicon Valley, I should be able to know what all of these mean... But goodness, I'm just so far behind on some of this stuff! I still write with a fountain pen! Thanks again for your touching comments Jim!
So true... And beautiful shots!
I liked all four photographs very much! Even that bridge is so surreal. It's like an alien UFO just dropped it there and the rest of the landscape is unfettered.
Poetry - Emotion recollected in tranquility - William Wordsworth.
I would gladly join you for an evening of whiskey and poetry.
I would be glad to join as well and even be able to bring a good drop of whisky
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Sounds good. We just need to decide when and where to meet!
I'll check a bag so I can bring a bottle of wine from California. Germany or Switzerland?
Oh ja
I like germany, especially Munich. I visit munich a lot, especially in the summer. Love to drive up there.
I'd love to join you too!
No cigars necessary for me. I'm perfectly happy with a small serving of whiskey and a big bottle of flat water. And I'd love to chat about literature and poetry with you!
Thank's for the post.
Jaguars Gorgeous is my favorite - with Mercedes as close second.
I also recall that Audi made some great commercials for the B7 RS4, which made me buy one. The there was a haunting baby in the VW Lupo advert. VW also made a classic GTI ad in the 80’s.
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The Marketing/PR team at Audi are now crying "Hooray, it worked!"
In the USA, we don't get the Lupo, so I doubt I've seen that one. Unless I had a TV nearby while I was traveling. Everyone tells me the GTI is a great car and that if I lived in Europe I'd probably own one!
Really wonderful post Patrick. Thank you.
I am an avid reader. I read four or five books at the same time. When my mood changes I switch to another book. I have books all over my house. I have tried to read poetry but somehow I just never get it. I’ve tried multiple times. Your post has inspired me to try again. Would you please recommend a book of poems for a beginner that would help begin to understand the wonderful world of poetry?
Thank you
CB
Thank you
CB