The Artless Bodger’s Attempt at an Art Poétique
I’ve nothing new so here’s an old one, my first one, from over 40 years ago.
I shall measure out my life
with spoonfuls of borrowed ideas
and with a pretence of knowing
about this and that and poetry.
with spoonfuls of borrowed ideas
and with a pretence of knowing
about this and that and poetry.
Just tell me the ingredients of a good poem
and I shall have a go at writing one.
And tell me the right form and shape
so that it looks right on the page,
and I will knock it about a bit
so that the lines end at the right place.
Meanwhile, once more creeps on me the urge
to write and churn it out like this:
so that the lines end at the right place.
Meanwhile, once more creeps on me the urge
to write and churn it out like this:
The jolly verse that off my tongue doth trip
Maketh all the girls’ hearts to dance and skip…
But who has powers these days to sit and rhyme?
Sitting and rhyming we lay waste our time.
Or perhaps I’ll try another tack:
Sitting and rhyming we lay waste our time.
Or perhaps I’ll try another tack:
On woeful jazz-days like this
I stand and stare and cannot piss…
I stand and stare and cannot piss…
Write like this and they’ll throw it back.
‘Ere, why don’t I try a little nonsense spoof?
‘Ere, why don’t I try a little nonsense spoof?
It’s late, the cats are howling on the roof,
My husband will not be home tonight…
My husband will not be home tonight…
No, this won’t do, the subject’s too trite!
What if I hold a short idea between my teeth
like elastic and pull?
What if I hold a short idea between my teeth
like elastic and pull?
Yes but, how far? How far?
Far enough’s too frightening,
Far far too frightening,
Far far too Pascalian, much too far to
It’s a long way to when will I ever …
Far enough’s too frightening,
Far far too frightening,
Far far too Pascalian, much too far to
It’s a long way to when will I ever …
Write like this and the answer’s never!
Well, at least I’m on my guard against self-deceit,
ever since a man did accost me in the street,
and he did insult me with no uncertain greet
Well, at least I’m on my guard against self-deceit,
ever since a man did accost me in the street,
and he did insult me with no uncertain greet
ing, and ready, I, to go on my
thought how oft doth wisdom cry
out int strasse, a nasty sod he called me und
so me geschtoppt und listund
he said “Write no tripe in cryptic lang
uage and eschew
lousy lines
that just
hang
together in sepulchral sound
sjust knocked around.”
© Nemo 2023
Views: 2171
It stands the test of time, mate. Love the construction, love the premis, love the self-deprecating nature of the piece.
So, so good on so many levels….
Enjoyable read. with lots of tricks of rhyme and layout. My only mild comment would be there are a couple of phrases like ‘no uncertain greet’ ‘Creeps on me the urge’ that I think could be tidied up into normal language.
Thanks, Jim. I’m sure the bodger’s confidence will be boosted by your comments which I will relay to him.
Gerald
When I questioned the bodger about his use of phrases such as ‘no uncertain greet ( ing )’ and ‘Creeps on me the urge’, he informed me that after coming under the influence of T.S. Elliot, he felt literary reference and quotations from Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Tennyson et al, and a melange of linguistic styles were de rigueur. But then, he was young, wasn’t he? I’ll pass your comments to him.
Great to read your work again, this is excellent Gerald.
Mike
Thanks, Mike. I’ve been out of things the last three months with illness but hope to visit WABD more regularly in future.
Gerald