Today, Friday, 21st March 2014 has officially been declared ‘World Poetry Day’.
So where does poetry ‘sit’ in your life and what is your idea of poetry?
Poetry is my way of ordering an idea or response, by moving it out of my head in as few words as possible, to clarify ~ writing the spine of what comes next.
It may stay as a poem, or become a short story, a script for a play or the screen or novel, perhaps even spawn more poems… but poetry is always the key.
Poetry is communicating clearly a strong emotion within me, which combined with the use of metaphor, I hope will find an echo when others read my efforts.
So I thought I’d share my reply to a fun poem Professor Glen Phillips sent and my responding poem (with permission, of course):
Glen Phillips reading a poem at Poets Corner, Perth Cultural Centre, 2005.
BUT BLONDES PREFER DIAMONDS
(or, Lesson No. 64)
If you think ‘a diamond is forever’,
as advertisements used to say,
(and you’re beautiful) grab whatever
lovely hot rocks come your way!
And why not? Centuries of avid men
seeking to turn the head of a cooling lover
resort to this old stratagem well-proven—
how to raise the stakes, get back in clover.
So down to the hockshop, make a grand
by selling heirlooms (or grandma’s wheelchair)
and then hare it to the gem store, with hand
on heart, plead a done deal for a big solitaire.
Gentlemen prefer blondes, but blondes prefer
rocks and preferably bigger and with more sparks
than those in the eyes of he who would woo her.
You good boys, listen, how to get top marks!
Glen Phillips © July, 2007.
and my response:
Frances Macaulay Forde reading a poem at Poets Corner, Perth Cultural Centre, 2005.
Lesson No 65
See, diamonds are hard
as everyone knows,
a girl must have metal
for this century’s woes.
Getting her rocks off
whether blond, red or brunette
no faking, no waiting – Helen,
woman hasn’t peaked yet.
While gentlemen play with image
cream blondes, brunettes achieve.
Red wears stainless steel bands
inscribed with ‘We must believe!’
Don’t strive for tabloid wants
look past the surface bling,
there’s more to a woman
tho’ the sparkle is tempting…
Frances Macaulay Forde © 2007
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