dcmarti1 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I spent three weeks in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK, in 2004. It is one of the few times in the 8+ year period I have been REALLY happy. The form is syllabic Cameo, at least I hope it is: 2, 5, 8, 3, 8, 7, 2. English windows are opposed to the ones in America. The sun drenched garden room at Butterfly Inn had such tender panes; I was afraid. English desk clerks can be best understood when you are tipsy, certainly when they are from Liverpool. Those young, hot English waiters are best straight. I say that because they ask you to help them avoid girls they do not like. Even if you are gay you can slip your arm around their waist to help. English youth at the dance club segregate themselves by sexes: but a girl half my age came and rubbed herself against my thigh; the music had stopped. Dark hair went well past her broad shoulders, framing ample bosoms. She never told me her name and neither did I ever ask it: she was so drunk. English lads at the dance club worry about your absence and ask around, "Where's the gay American guest?" They ask this while you are in the loo. Young, straight lads who ask questions and then see you, put their arms on your shoulders, and if they are 19 and drunk, they still smile and dance, knowing you're gay. I don't remember his name, nor do I remember the name of the club. I just wish that I had kissed him (as well as the other 3) straightly! 8 years of absence and you are still with me. England, we both reek and rot of wretched Empire! But I want to remember all their names - to dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I like this very much. Your subject matter is bright and breezy.. also pleasant to read. I smiled at the mention of Liverpool. The further north one travels in England the more unintelligible the dialects become. I'm partial to the flexibility of syllabic verse formats... having used various longer stanza templates purloined from different poets over the years (shameless). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 The tale is all true. The hotel was even called The Butterfly Inn. That 3 week period in Aug/Sep 2004 was a warm and dry spell: only ONE afternoon of light rain. Warwick, Burleigh, Grantham, St. Botolph's, Skegness, Peterborough Cathedral.....And the hotel staff taking a 40 year old out and paying his cover charges. I was hoping no Brit would be offended. And thank you for liking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedalus Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 The English have a soft spot for affable American eccentrics. You wouldn't have got the same reception if you were Scots or Irish or (God help us) Welsh! Quote Drown your sorrows in drink, by all means, but the real sorrows can swim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Point of interest: It was announced this week that Polish is officially the second most spoken language.... "in England... now!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 The English have a soft spot for affable American eccentrics. You wouldn't have got the same reception if you were Scots or Irish or (God help us) Welsh! Sigh: nobody ever remembers the Kernowyon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Hi Marti, I enjoyed reading this... The language and the rhythm project your delight in the experience. It is a feel good poem. I like how you converted a verse form to a stanzaic form. Much better use of an easy to work with frame. I hope you don't mind I inserted a link to the verse form. ~~Tink Quote ~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~ For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen M. Callirhoe Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 i like the form of this. a very smooth soft rhythm and cadence to this poem, which really sells the story well. enjoyed very much so. victor Quote Larsen M. Callirhoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 i like the form of this. a very smooth soft rhythm and cadance to this poem, which really sells the story well. enjoyed very much so. victor Thank you very much, Victor. It was originally in a -more or less- free verse format, but I just did not like its "look". Form really helps me focus. And you are the FIRST person to ever give me credit for cadence. Wow, I appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclipse Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 a deceptive read-excellent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks, eclipse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyv Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Loved this, Marti, the nostalgia and the way you address the place and compare yourself to it in the last verse. Title's terrific, too. Tony Quote Here is a link to an index of my works on this site: tonyv's Member Archive topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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