NaPoWriMo Day 26For Read Write Poem
It’s getting late in the month, and finishing NaPoWriMo is going to take every bit of resourcefulness you have. Jill Crammond Wickham reminds us about the bits and pieces of poems we may be carrying around.
Today, before you start writing, you need to do some digging. Dig through your backpack, purse or desk drawer and find a scrap of poem written on an old envelope or bank deposit slip. Unearth an old journal or notebook.
Find a poem that you started, or perhaps one you abandoned. Read it through. Highlight the lines or phrases that please you. Do not cross anything out (yet)! You now have two choices: finish the poem or take the parts you like and begin a brand new piece.
If NaPoWriMo has you a little crazy, there is a third option: take the parts you don’t like and use them to inspire a new poem.
Here’s a piece I started and never finished.
The first two stanza’s were as far as I got…
Until today…
ANOTHER HOLIDAY CANCELLED
Windsor knotted, Cashmere tie
Bank Manager from Yorkshire
Now working in Lancashire
Fluent in three languages
Welcomes plain-English speaker
In a mixture of all three
‘Put wood in t’ole; sit thi daewn
‘n tek the weight off yer feet’
Donkey-jacketed debtor
Closes the door; parks himself
Leather and Mahogany
Too formal for his liking
Flat cap shifts from hand to hand
Coffee cup remains untouched
Hoping for a lucky break
But expecting more bad news
Down to serious business
Computer keyboard clicking
In time to manicured prompts
Cashmere Tie draws a breath; speaks
‘About the loan applied for
It’s a negative result
Your Credit Rating’s far too…’
‘Precarious’ came out as ‘slack’
What could Donkey Jacket do
To help his situation?
He works all the hours God sends
Double-shifts and overtime
Hasn’t had a holiday
Since Nineteen Eighty Seven
‘Not my fault if They don’t pay
Honest wages for honest work
And ever since Recession
Saving for a Rainy Day
Doesn’t accrue much interest
In the sixth wettest city’
‘Sorry mate, I can’t help you’
Cashmere Tie extends right hand
Donkey Jacket grips it; shakes
Removes wood from hole; slams
I enjoyed that, specially as my Dad was a bank manager. May I diffidently suggest a tiny change, for rhythm's sake: Honest wageS for honest work
ReplyDeleteViV
I had my say and it disappeared. I enjoyed this, specially as my Dad was a stern bank manager!
ReplyDeleteMay I diffidently suggest that you add an S to wage in the antipenultimate verse (I lost count from the top), for rhythm's sake?
ViV
Thanks ViV; Better that - I think I'll go with it - cheers.
ReplyDeleteyeah...everybody has its bits and cons...
ReplyDeleteI just hope it will pass away..
God bless
Thanks Inay; For some, recession is a way of life.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this poem and it reminded me of an experience. Think I will go write it down now :) Ingeborg
ReplyDeleteRainy days and mondays...
ReplyDeleteI like the penultimate stanza. Which are the other five cities? Speaking as a Yorkshireman, "Tha's done reight well, si thee!"
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this a lot. Great use of dialect.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy hearing dialogue in poetry. Good stuff, Stan.
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking about the poor old hundred year old Hungarian woman who needed a bank loan in the film "Drag Me to Hell." If you haven't seen this Remi film, I highly recommend it!
Best,
~Mark
Thanks to:
ReplyDeleteIngeborg; I think we've all been there...
Dan; Not forgetting wet weekends.
Derrick; Manchester says 'sound mate, sorted'
Poemblaze; Original intention was to use more, but but couldn't decide on direction and ended up with this.
Mark; I'll look out for that.
Pamela; The only ones not affected are the ones who had nothing to start with.
Again another great one. You always nail the dialogue so well. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThanks RSA; I've been hit with that hammer once or twice.
ReplyDeletea beautiful rhythm for such a sad tale... nightflight no 5
ReplyDeleteour society is built on some unsavoury math isn't it. well drawn characters.
ReplyDeleteThanks to:
ReplyDeletePieceofpie; Sad but commonplace.
Lucychili; Have's & Have Not's.
Nicely completed, like the 'slams' at the death!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy; There's always next year...
ReplyDelete