[FOsen]

Oh, what the hell. With apologies to the "Archaism in Poetry" thread:


We shall defend your honor,
we shall preserve your pluck,
And we shall not besmirch you,
We shan’t shirk or duck,
Norfolk, Norfolk.

When others cant and cavil,
While others grouse and cluck,
We won’t rouse our rabble,
We won’t run amok,
Norfolk, Norfolk.

For you we're always stalwart,
We don't smoke, drink, or talk muck,
Norfolk, Norfolk.

O we shall not be gainsayed,
And we shall have no truck
With those who give not praise for you,
Norfolk, Norfolk.

Frank

[R. S. Gwynn]

When I was a kid I heard that at football games Norfolk High fans would cheer:

We don't smoke!
We don't drink!
Norfolk! Norfolk! Norfolk!

[Maryann Corbett]

Testimony from my William & Mary freshman-year dorm mates: what Sam heard is true. I'd say you have to pronounce it NAWf*ck when you read Frank's poem aloud.

[Roger Slater]

Too archaic. I wonder if they'd consider changing the name of their town to Orfolk?

[Donna English]

Sounds Dull to Me

Sunday—church bells—bible thumping
Monday—school bells—trash truck dumping

Tuesday—Amish horses— clopping
Wednesday—gossip—first name dropping

Thursday—voices shouting-- Bingo!
Friday—cow sale—bovine lingo.

Saturday the Opry—rockin’ !
Drunken Christians—mockin’—sockin’

Pike’s motto: You’ve Reached Paradise!
(It's Deadsville here, were drawing flies.)

[Martin Elster]

Connecticut

We folks in Connecticut adhere to good etiquette,
never covet, philander, or kill.
No one ever comes late to their job in this state
and we never miss work ’cause we’re ill.

Our vista’s are stunning, and no one’s seen running
from robber or rapist or bum.
Everyone smiles. None lack domiciles.
You won’t see a soul looking glum.

Neither slum nor a mansion nor urban expansion
you’ll find in this fabulous region.
No one’s ever pugnacious; instead, we’re all gracious,
with affordable health food stores legion.

Our cars don’t pollute, all the women are cute,
and the men are all free of addiction.
All our children are smart as Curie or Descartes,
and I am the King of Pure Fiction.

[Marion Shore]

Yay, Bill! Once again you upheld the Spherian banner!

That being said, and maybe it's sour grapes, but despite her enthusiasm for the Yankee invasion, it seemed to me she was a tad parochial in her choices--I for one did not understand most of the references. A British slant is okay of course, seeing it's a British publication. At any rate, I feel (sad to say) I've done some of my best work here-- and as I know I can never top "electile dysfunction"-- I think my time is better wasted , er, spent elsewhere.

[Martin Elster]

Originally Posted by Marion Shore

Oh hail to thee Florida,
to thy lush Everglades,
to thy palm-shaded beaches
where the tan never fades;

where the old folks retire,
and the gators are somethin',
where George Bush and Al Gore
had electile disfunction.

Hail to thee, Sunshine State,
to Miami and Kissimee,
and last but not least
to thy kingdom of Dis-i-ney!

I didn't see this until now. It's inspired! I'd like to read the winning poems. Can someone supply a link please?

Martin

[John Whitworth]

Oh Marion, come back to us. All poetry is timewasting. Schiller said something about the game-quality being an indispensable part of it and all games are, by definition time-wasting. Think of the dreary things that are not!

[Bill Greenwell]

I think my time is better wasted , er, spent elsewhere.

Stick with it, Marion. Your entries are essential.

best wishes

Bill