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How to Get On In Society
By Josie
19 April 2008

John Betjemen wrote some funny poetry, and one which I like is called "How to Get on in Society".  This is my "take-off" of his poem, describing the preparation of a tea party.  What social rules exist in your world.  Even in the classroom or in your home, you have social rules that you must adhere to, and they start at an early age.  A good way for children to learn to write poetry is to copy the style of the poet who they like, as I have done.


  

                         HOW TO GET ON IN SOCIETY 
                        Sir John Betjeman said:

                    Phone for the fishknives, Norman  
                        As Cook is a little unnerved,
                    Your kiddies have crumpled the serviettes  
                       And I must have things daintily served.  

See:  http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/john_betjeman/poems/785


                    What verse would you add? 

 

                    Here’s mine 

                       HOW TO GET ON IN SOCIETY                   

                                  By Josie 

                    Don’t forget forks for the cakes dear,  
                       Sticky fingers on chairs?  Goodness no!
                    We’ll polish our best silver teapot,  
                       For we want to put on a good show. 

                    Oh, sugar in lumps is much nicer,  
                       And our bone china cups are a must,
                    The sandwiches daintily served dear,  
                       And don’t forget ‘trim off the crusts’. 

                    A serviette daintily folded. 
                       With a tea knife that’s carefully laid.
                    Do you think you can manage this darling?  
                       If not, then we’ll just hire a maid. 




  Copyright 2008
 www.whiteheadm.co.uk  

Reviews

Written by Veronica_Milvus (459 comments posted) 19th April 2008
Very funny! I love Betjeman but it all sounds so dated now. He captured the angst of the middle classes so well!

Written by Veronica_Milvus (459 comments posted) 19th April 2008
Very funny! I love Betjeman but it all sounds so dated now. He captured the angst of the middle classes so well!

Written by beatricelouise (202 comments posted) 19th April 2008
Very nicely written, Josie. My favourite line is the final one. 'If not, then we'll just hire a maid.' The easy way out of any work. :grin  
 
You are doing so well with your poetry. I do enjoy your work. So keep on writing. I have to be on pause for awhile. Too many projects going to write anything. But one day I'll be back with some new posts.

Written by Phil (6393 comments posted) 19th April 2008
Liked this, Josie. 
 
'Angst of the middle classes' - super. 
 
Phil
Hey! Josie!
Written by Katanga (730 comments posted) 19th April 2008
Love it - please see my feeble response above! Hope you get more of these. X

Written by Josie (2500 comments posted) 20th April 2008
I think a lot of people still use their silver teapot and cake forks. But younger people prefer mugs of coffee and a biscuit instead I think. What do you think the Queen prefers mid-afternoon? I guess the silver teapot and cake with a fork - sokeep them handy for her visit. I guess it's rather nice if you have the time, which most of us don't.

Written by Josie (2500 comments posted) 20th April 2008
My mind was so on entertaining the Queen that I forgot to say thank you everyone for your reviews. I should have said also that my mother's generation, rich or poor, kept a bone china teaset for best. Most of these have been passed down to the next generation, but they are not used often for mugs are preferable. Do any of you ever use them now?

Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 20th April 2008
English tea ceremonies are most interesting. I like it actually. Afternoon tea is one of the best inventions to come from the UK. Mugs are of course handy when you want to drink something quickly, but with more people around pouring tea is a nice gesture. 
I think the British were very smart to introduce this tradition to Europe. 
 

Written by Josie (2500 comments posted) 20th April 2008
Fledermaus, I have to agree with you. If you go to Canada or Australia (and perhaps America) you are more likely to get a teabag to dangle in your cup than a teapot. I have both lived and travelled in these countries, and the only place the teapot came out was with English people who have moved there. So, it looks as if Ilkley might be a destination for a holiday after all. ha ha. What is equally important, of course, is home made scones with either butter or clotted cream and the best jam. Mmmm - I think the Queen has these things - (and so do I sometimes). An institution that seems to have gone out of fashion is high tea on Sundays. Do any GW members have this still?

Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 20th April 2008
Enjoyed this, Josie! I can almost visualise it. But I would be too nervous to enjoy the tea prepared with such delicate ceremony. :grin  
 
Mia

Written by fornwalt (4 comments posted) 1st June 2008
I like this. :) It sounds like a mother berating a child for poor cleaning skills. I wish my mom would hire a maid instead of making me clean. ;) 
 
English tea parties sound so fancy, as this poem supports. Your words really captured the insistence that everything be perfect for the mystery company. :D

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