Tuesday 29 June 2010

Getting to the bus stop for the Poetry Bus.

It is my turn to drive again next Monday. I don't know about all the other passengers but I do like a lot of time to think about the week's subject - so here is next Monday's challenge for you to mull over in plenty of time.

I had the subject all worked out but then this morning, when I went into town to the Post Office, a funny incident occurred and that changed my mind. Our P O is in the Co-op store and as I went through the door I came face-to-face with our Community Policeman carrying a very large, very ornate chocolate cake. I couldn't help wondering why he had it - was it his birthday and was he going to give all his colleagues a slice, was it a present for somebody, was he a chocaholic?

On my way to Tesco I mulled over this incident and it reminded me of a programme about Tom Stoppard, the playwright, which I saw at least twenty-five years ago but which has stayed in my mind. He was talking about strange unexplainable incidents and how we strive to explain them. The example he gave, if I remember rightly, was that he saw a man in pyjamas walking down the road carrying a peacock under his arm.
He gave a variety of explanations for the incident - of course he never knew whether any of them were correct.

So how does all that relate to our poetry bus challenge on Monday? Well it struck me that we have never had to write about a person. So here are a few alternatives:-

1. You could write about an unexplained incident (as the examples above).
2. You could write about a person (as in 'Old Meg she was a gypsy and lived upon the moors'.)
3. You could write AS as person (as in 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock)

The only fixed criterion is that the poem is in some way related to a person.

I do hope this makes sense - I look forward to reading the poems on Monday. Shall spend tomorrow giving the bus a good clean out - I am not much good under the bonnet but am pretty good at sweeping and cleaning, so the bus should be pristine by Monday. Enjoy!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am going to give it a try, Weaver.
One of my favorite poems is In Westminster Abbey by John Betjcheman (spelling!)
where the astoundingly appalling woman wants her home saved specially by the Almighty
with whom she is on very pally terms indeed....
Adopting a persona is rather fun, I think.

Unknown said...

Oh Weaver another exciting challenge. Looking forward as ever to stepping on the bus next week.

Gwil W said...

I do hope I manage to catch this bus. I've just done your R S Thomas experiment but with Thomas Hardy. The end result was very surprising. I had no idea how it would come out.

Niamh B said...

excellent, had feared I wouldn't make it on, but now that you've posted so early I might manage something!
Thanks

Totalfeckineejit said...

Is that a honeysuckle I see before me? Cup my overfloweth, sayeth Yoda. My oh My! What a fine task you have lain before us Weaver, like succulent treats upon a picnic blanket under the dapple shady oak tree in the blazing heat cooled by the lazee river.Now we must feast.Away with us!

Heather said...

An interesting challenge Pat. I must give it some thought and hope that time will be on my side this weekend and I can catch the bus.

Anonymous said...

I am still thinking about the policeman and the chocolate cake. I'd love a slice! I have missed the bus along the way, detoured off the main road and have no idea where the bus stops are located. Do you all write poems and email them to each other? How does it work? Don't think I will participate but am interested in the process of the poetry bus. Sounds like fun.

Titus said...

Thank you Weaver, you are surely the most organised driver! I bet you're the only one who checks the tyre pressures too.

That is an intersting challenge, and a well-spotted ommission, though I did write a person poem way back in the cafe challenge. Hoping to participate, events willing.

Dave King said...

Like it - I'll have a go at that. Well, I'll try!

Another little bit of web synchronicity perhaps, but it strikes me that I've just scheduled a post for tomorrow which is exactly what you have in mind... except it's a painting, not a poem. Hey, ho, see you Monday - hopefully!

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

I think I can kill two birds with one stone and participate in your bus ride with a poem I'm writing this weekend for Big Tent Poetry, if you'll allow me aboard?

Dr. Jeanne Iris said...

This is great, Ms. Weaver! Since it's the 4th of July weekend coming up, there will surely be plenty of sources for us Americans!

Marion said...

You had me at "Prufrock"! I'm in love with the brooding, master poet, Eliot. I can't wait to give it a go. Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Excellent challenge, really set me thinking.
much love
cfm

alexis nicole said...

I've stumbled across the Poetry Bus and it I'd love to join in the fun...what do I do when I have finished my poem? :)

chiccoreal said...

Dear Weaver: Great to have "the farmer's wife" driving da bus! "Farmers Feed Cities" is a common bumper sticker here and we'll tack that on yer bus today! ok? OK!
Would it be cheating if I channel the poet Emily Dickinson? I am doing a poem on her a day anyway, so that should be easy peasy; maybe? Wonders what Victorian girls from Mass. USA sounded like? Did they have a Victorian/Boston accent? What would that sound like? Maybe there is a youtube video of the lady Emily. I'll try...dont laugh ok?

Rachel Fox said...

I'll be out a lot of the weekend so I've posted something now - haven't followed the rules entirely...but what else is new?
http://crowd-pleasers.blogspot.com/2010/07/picasso-on-bus.html
x

Unknown said...

I'm on the bus early!
http://returninghomeinsilkenrobes.blogspot.com/2010/07/poetry-bus-challenge-weaver-of-grass.html

Dominic Rivron said...

A good challenge. It got me reading Eliot, too. I've posted my effort:

http://dominicrivron.blogspot.com/2010/07/ave-atque-vale.html

Bill said...

And I've had a go, too:

http://usuallyconfined.blogspot.com/2010/07/roll-up-your-trousers-for-poetry-bus.html

DCAja said...

nice one!
inka