Great Writing - Home > Poetry > A Postcard from Sussex
Poetry
A Postcard from Sussex
By grace
23 August 2008

POSTCARD FROM SUSSEX


A postcard for you Auntie Joyce, of somewhere you would like,

so sad you don't get 'round so well, since you fell off your bike.

If only you had realised that being ninety three,

you really shouldn't ride along the cycle path, hands free!


You could have been here with us, in the boiling Sussex sun,

we know how much you love the beach and how you like a run.

You've always loved a bit of rock and candy floss on stick,

but I still think that donkey ride, was what destroyed your hip!


We've been here a while but we still haven't seen dear Mother,

performing on her surfboard, in the breakers with your brother.

Singing "Rule Britannia," with her trident in her hand

and terrorising tourists in the Bognor Regis sand!


Still we live in hope and if the wind is blowing right,

we've told her that we'll fly her, on the seafront, as a kite.

Of course you know we tease her but she tolerates our 'quips',

as long as we assure her, that we'll buy her cod and chips.


Well, I'd really better go, we're disco bound tonight,

and Mother wants her hair dyed cherry red, from 'pension' white.

We've got to iron her mini skirt and shine stiletto heels,

so bye for now, take care and stay away from hooves and wheels!

Reviews

Written by Josie (4035 comments posted) 23rd August 2008
Excellent and the children will love this. If I had to just change one little thing, it would be in the last verse, line one: Well, I had really better go - - - this has better metre Pam. Other than that excellent.
Nothing wrong with the metre!
Written by Brett (2419 comments posted) 23rd August 2008
The line is merely trochaic rather than iambic, Josie. 
Initial stress being on 'Well'...the rest follows naturally. 
Perfect poetry. 
Cheers

Written by grace (298 comments posted) 24th August 2008
Hi Josie and Brett, 
 
thank you both so much for your generous and helpful comments.  
 
I do understand what you're saying Josie but the way it is does fit better with the way I wanted it to sound, so I hope you don't mind but I think I will leave it as is. I guess Brett is reading it as I do. 
 
Thnak you both again, I'm very grateful for your comments, 
 
Pamx
Very pleasing
Written by MattHews (215 comments posted) 27th August 2008
One small quibble ~ In the penultimate stanza, third line, the metre seems to go on a wobble. I suggest '... but she tolerates our 'quips' 
 
Regards - Malcolm

Written by grace (298 comments posted) 27th August 2008
Hello Malcolm, 
 
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and generous comments. I hadn't had a problem personally with the metre at that point, no doubt because I wrote it :) but I have changed it because your suggestion is much better than the original.  
 
Thank you again for your help, 
 
Pamx :)

   Only registered users can rate and write comments.
   Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!

 Previous item   Next item