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Monday, April 26, 2010

DAY 26 – GET SCRAPPY

NaPoWriMo Day 26
For 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

18 comments:

  1. 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

    ViV

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  2. I had my say and it disappeared. I enjoyed this, specially as my Dad was a stern bank manager!

    May 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

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  3. Thanks ViV; Better that - I think I'll go with it - cheers.

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  4. yeah...everybody has its bits and cons...
    I just hope it will pass away..

    God bless

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  5. Thanks Inay; For some, recession is a way of life.

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  6. Enjoyed this poem and it reminded me of an experience. Think I will go write it down now :) Ingeborg

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  7. I like the penultimate stanza. Which are the other five cities? Speaking as a Yorkshireman, "Tha's done reight well, si thee!"

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  8. Enjoyed this a lot. Great use of dialect.

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  9. I enjoy hearing dialogue in poetry. Good stuff, Stan.

    I 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

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  10. Thanks to:
    Ingeborg; 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.

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  11. Again another great one. You always nail the dialogue so well. Thanks for sharing

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  12. Thanks RSA; I've been hit with that hammer once or twice.

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  13. a beautiful rhythm for such a sad tale... nightflight no 5

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  14. our society is built on some unsavoury math isn't it. well drawn characters.

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  15. Thanks to:
    Pieceofpie; Sad but commonplace.
    Lucychili; Have's & Have Not's.

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  16. Nicely completed, like the 'slams' at the death!

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  17. Thanks Andy; There's always next year...

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