Wednesday 5 January 2011

Driving the Poetry Bus - My Turn

I was gently reminded earlier of my imminent driving job for the Poetry Bus this Sunday/Monday.

Actually it wasn't gentle at all. He shouted really, really loudly. There was screaming involved (mine) and spittle (his) and also that white stuff that appears at the corner of the mouth when venting (his) and no small amount of teeth-gnashing, hair-pulling out, nose-picking and teeth-brushing (mine) You'd think I had forgotten or thought it was next week or something...

Anyway...

I have had loads of absolutely top notch, brilliant ideas over the last year for great, superb and down-right sparkly prompts for the Poetry Bus, but they have gone the way of all single earrings, important wires and PIN numbers and I can't find them.

So here's a couple of ideas for you. Add your comment when you've something posted. I'll post up the passengers on Sunday/Monday. Enjoy the ride!

Prompt 1
I've just been watching the fabulous, funny, witty, insightful, dashingly handsome (in case he's reading) and very silly Tim Minchin, a Aussie comedian/songwriter who touches a nerve and says many things I've been thinking for years, but he says them out loud.

Here's one he did as a forgiveness/revenge song. Watch the video (the song starts at about 1:30 but the intro's worth watching) and write your own. Is it a critic? An ex-lover, a current lover, a parent, a teacher, a blog commentor, a boss, your best friend at school, the man in the newsagents, a workshop participant, your hairdresser, a woman in a boutique, the milkman, another poet, whatever. Who made you feel small? Write it out. Get your own back now.



Prompt 2
In case you're perfect or not bitter enough. Another Tim Minchin writing prompt. A 9 minute, beat poem. Called Storm

OK. Great, eh? Now write a poem (doesn't have to be a beat poem)

EITHER as a Tim Minchin-like person about someone in touch with their inner angel, homeopathic-loving, reiki-trained Storm-like person

OR (as I know some of you lean a little to the reiki side of lovely)

as a spiritually awakened, nature-loving, Storm-like person about a skeptical, unbelieving, opinionated Tim Minchin-like person.

Exaggerate to taste.

Prompt 3
One thing Tim Minchin did make mention of was L'esprit d'escalier - or Wit of the staircase. You know, when you think of an absolute kick-ass response or retort or argument or answer or insult or joke, but too late. Sometimes much, much too late.

So write a poem about one of yours. Now's your chance to say it.

19 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

I am SO going to enjoy this one!

Titus said...

Ooh, that's hard. Love number 2, but where am I going to get a double bass?

Rachel Fox said...

I know people who really rate TM... and I feel like I should like him... and I like odd lines and can admire his performance and his piano playing... but his stuff just doesn't quite work for me. Too much not-very-clever swearing partly... and he's just a bit too spiteful at times... and there's the just-too-easy dig here and there. I know he's just written the songs for a musical version of Dahl's 'Matilda' (very popular book in our house). I'll be interested to hear them.
x

Totalfeckineejit said...

ABOUT BLOODY TIME!! GRRRR!!

Kat Mortensen said...

I'm here: http://hyggedigter.blogspot.com/2011/01/poetry-bus-bit-of-just-desserts.html

Couldn't wait to get this exorcised!

Emerging Writer said...

Thanks everyone. I think Tim Minchin very clever, not laugh-out-loud funny. I like the way he looks at things. I was watching the DVD and it just sparked lots of ideas (I should have written them down at the time of course)
(Also I don't really notice the swearing anymore. Living in Ireland does that to your ears)
Titus - no double bass? How about a banjo?

Kat?! An early passenger. Welcome on board. You can have first pick of the seats.

Rachel Fox said...

I wasn't going to write anything. And then I did.
x

Louise said...

You have me up at an ungodly hour of the night writing this yoke! It could be cut by early morning! But for now, I am on the bus!

Dave King said...

Almost like Rachel (Fox), I didn't think I could. Then I did (sort of!).

Helen said...

Oh, I wrote a litte ditty about a time I was made to feel smaller than small ... and about revenge! Great prompts from quite a talent!!!

Emerging Writer said...

thanks for coming on board Helen. Links now here

Dr. Jeanne Iris said...

Okay, Ms. Kate, I'm in:

http://www.revolutionaryrevelry.blogspot.com

Emerging Writer said...

Welcome on board Jeanne Iris

izzy said...

Whew- didn't find this until the very last second- VERY appropriate prompt(s) thanks!
http://izzy-conversing.blogspot.com/2011/01/poetry-bus11011.html

Kipling said...

Only my second trip, wow! TM is a hard act to follow. Anyway its up. Revenge is so sweet!

Emerging Writer said...

Welcome Kipling and Conversing. Idon't think we've met before. Come by the bus to see links to more passengers http://emergingwriter.blogspot.com/2011/01/poetry-bus-get-on-board.html

Ann T. said...

This one was Very hard. But I think I managed something. Sorry, do you take Late Tickets????

http://auntiehathaway.blogspot.com/2011/01/poetry-bus-art-appreciation.html

Argent said...

I'm somewhat late with this, but please may I step aboard?

My ticket is just here.

Don't Feed The Pixies said...

mine is up! Enjoyed the prompt, but took me a while to get it all together