Welcome to Poetry Friday at Alphabet Soup!
Some of you may remember when I shared, “What Not to Write on the Back Jacket of Your Debut Collection,” from Scottish poet Helena Nelson’s delightful book, Down with Poetry! (HappenStance, 2016). Well, here are two more ‘unsuitable,’ rabble-rousing, anti-poetry rib ticklers designed to keep any literary snobs in check. Yes, poetry is SERIOUS BUSINESS. But that also makes it the perfect subject for serious satire, and Nelson is so good at it.
See if these don’t give you a good lift. 😀
*
MRS N ENTERS THE LITERARY WORLD I know it's hard to believe me when I say (watch my lips) I once found it hard to get my poems published. I used to get--Rejection Slips. In those days the little magazines --sole recipients of my writing-- clearly needed waking-up-- their editors were uninviting. As time went by I grew more bold-- no doubt I was inspired by The Muse. I won elevation by a device which happily transformed their views. The purchase of a Wonderbra which I wore to a poetry slam in Fife at the cost of £19.99 was the single thrust that changed my life. I took two poems, short and sweet and pinned one neatly to each cup and then I raised my cleavage up, dangling the poems in mid-air, suspended like Parnassus where my readers (those abreast) could stare. And thus it was a genre started, my coup de bra, my magnum opus shared by my sisters (try and stop us.) The world of Arts Review and Crit refers to us--we're not part of it-- with quiet reverence as--Lit Tit. ~ Copyright © 2016 Helena Nelson. All rights reserved.
*
POETRY FORUM What is poetry for? (Maitreyabhandu) It’s for weddings and funerals and reading on the train and for taking a person out of herself and bringing her back more sane. It’s for children and lunatics and chimney-sweeps and punks It’s for teachers and preachers and politicians and drunks. It’s for dinner and afternoon tea and marvellous midnight snacks. It’s for cravings and ravings and low-poetry attacks. It’s for four o’clock for four of us and for five o’clock for five. It’s for fortitude and forums for formalists to survive. It’s for all we know intelligent and rarely less than clever. You can get some for nothing and remember it forever. ~ Copyright © 2016 Helena Nelson. All rights reserved.
*
Now that you have been suitably elevated, please leave your links with the dashing Mr. Linky. He welcomes reviews, original poems, poems by others, and all manner of poetic musings. Rumor has it that he also appreciates a fancy tassel or two now and again. 😀
*
*
Enjoy all the offerings. Thanks so much for joining us this week!
*
🎉 BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNER! 🎈
We are pleased to announce that the lucky winner of a brand new copy of HOW THE SEA CAME TO BE: And All the Creatures In It by Jennifer Berne and Amanda Hall is:
🎺🎺 *trumpet fanfare* 🎺 🎺
🥁 🥁 🥁*drumroll please** 🥁 🥁 🥁
🌹 ROBYN HOOD BLACK!! 🌺
Congratulations, Robyn!!
👏👏 👏 👏 👏
Thanks to everyone who entered. Enjoyed all your great comments! xo
*
“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up, to more than I can be.” ~ Brendan Graham.
*Copyright © 2023 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Ah thanks for all these smiles Jama! 🥰 🥳 Helena Nelson is definitely part of Lit, I’ll have to look for her book(s). And wow what a spread… pumpkin whoopee pies and tea, yum! I love the bra art at the top–this reminded me of an art piece I made many moons ago of a soft-sculpture tea set made out of bras, I hope you are smiling. I wish I had a pic of it but alas I was a wee undergrad and didn’t always document all back then…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soft sculpture tea set, did you say? You are a girl after my own heart. What a fabulous idea!! Yes, I’m smiling. 🙂
LikeLike
LOL! The first poem is so fun, but I love these lines in the second poem even more: “for taking a person out of herself / and bringing her back more sane” Thanks for hosting, Jama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I never thought of pinning poems to a bra–how smart…and funny! Thanks so much for hosting Poetry Friday this week. I’m in with some double dactyls after being inspired by Tracy KJ.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You go, girl! I can’t wait to see what you’ve created!
LikeLike
Thanks for the intro to Helena Nelson and her light-hearted fun! I especially like these lines about the purpose of poetry: “and for taking a person out of herself/and bringing her back more sane.” Thanks for hosting this week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jama, your post is quite humorous (and a little racier than I expected from Paddington Bear)! I laughed several times. Thank you for hosting and for the chuckles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You will be pleased to know Paddington had nothing to do with this post. I blindfolded him while I was writing it. 😀
LikeLike
You are very funny!!!
LikeLike
Ha! I must have missed your post about Helena Nelson before, so I’m delighted to indulge in these offerings here. And, Scotland! Fife! I’m doubly-hooked, like a bra, maybe… Also, I’m with Anastasia and Molly about that “and for taking a person out of herself/and bringing her back more sane” line.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the fantastic news about HOW THE SEA CAME TO BE – can’t wait to have my own copy!
(Also, thanks for the, um, observation? warning? about Mr. Linky….) ;0)
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is more to Mr Linky than meets the eye. You have been forewarned . . .
LikeLike
I love the irreverent, tongue in cheek position Helena Nelson adopts in her first poem. It has a sassy quality to it. The second poem poses a perenial question regarding poetry and provides an all encompassing response. Two well chosen poems, Jama. I enjoyed them very much Thank you for hosting and posting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love a shortbread scottie. What kind of tea are we having? Thanks for hosting us so delightfully, Jama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Organic green tea this week, T. xo
LikeLike
Oh, Jama, after a long work day, you’ve brought joy from Helena’s words. They’re especially uplifting (bad joke, I know, but. . .) I love all the things poetry is for and that dear reading couple. Thanks, Jama, for hosting. I do hope Mr. Linky will forgive me since I’m all out of tassels! : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Out of tassels?!? You mean you usually have them around? Hmmmm. . . . I guess I don’t “really” know you, Linda. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jama, thanks for hosting today. I appreciate meeting Helena Nelson here today. I love the “What is Poetry For?” poem. “You can get some / for nothing / and remember it / forever.” Amen! What a gift.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun and irreverent, indeed, Jama- these are great! Thanks for sharing and hosting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amusing AND uplifting, Jama! Who could ask for more? Haha. I love it! Thanks for hosting today, and enjoy those pumpkin goodies! Yum.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love these poems, Jama. Thank you for sharing them. And thank you for hosting us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I needed a dose of this irreverent but spot on humorous poetry. I echo the praise of Nelson’s lines, “and for taking a person out of herself
and bringing her back more sane.” – that’s what both these poems did!
Thank you for the smile and for hosting, Jama! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such wry and playful poems, Jama! Thank you for these Friday delights!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I laughed out loud! Thank you, Jama, for such delights. Now I have a weekend plan: purchase Helena Nelson’s book and make pumpkin whoopie pies. Both will happen. Thank you for hosting and for starting my day with this joy and sweetness. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coup de bra! 🙂 Sassy tassels, green organic tea, blindfolded Cornelius…Jama, you are the best kind of poem. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coup de Bra! 😂😂😂😂😂
LikeLike
Coup de bra 😂😂😂 hahaha
Thanks for the humor and the hosting, dear Jama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Delightful, as always, Jama. 🙂 Thank you for making me laugh today. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love these, Jama! I may have to prompt the Nevermores to get a little bawdy 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jama, many thanks for hosting with such a beautiful arrangement of fall treats, both edible and poetic. I loved the opening image that made me imagine what is its purpose. As I read the poem, a huge smile formed. The gift of satire is welcomed in this laugh-out-loud post. I am working on my post now. It should be arriving soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I added my post, Jama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that I’ve choked on my tea…
The thrust of that first poem will keep me chuckling. I think I’m gonna hafta pick up that book. Thanks for hosting today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such fun! Thank you, Jama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coup de bra indeed. Thanks for the laughs, and for hosting today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness, what a laugh at poetry raised abreast! Thanks for hosting with hilarity.
LikeLike
You gave me a lift, indeed! And a couple of giggles, too! Thanks for hosting us!
LikeLiked by 2 people