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Funny Poets Preservation Society..(in defence of)

Crispin Thomas

Tuesday, October 26th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 now there once was this odd football poet
he was sad but he sure didn’t show it
and he just couldn’t stop
at some gig or workshop
and the laughter would roll you’d just know it

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 so you’re up for abuse
if you put on those shoes
and you read to a school or a crowd
but when it’s the heart
I don’t care where you start
what’s so wrong if they all scream out loud?

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 if you’re humour-ensconced
but you get some response
then as far as I know it’s job done
there are are loads out of reach
just ask people who teach
and sometimes it’s just about fun

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 you can say what you like
call it simple or trite
if you write stuff and try to inspire
there will always be those
who will mock or impose
their opinions by day and by night

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 but its not being funny
your ego or money
for challenges come and they pass
it’s the ones that that get hooked
maybe pick up a book
that just make it a meaningful class

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 when i look back on school
how i broke ev’ry rule
i’m so glad that someone took the time
to influence me
in this strange poetry
may it last like the game for all time

© CT04

Notes

written in tongue-in-cheek response to Paul Conneally’s comments on ‘funny poets’ who go into schools..I totally understand where you’re coming from Paul..BUT.. trying anything in schools can be soul-destroying, often misunderstood and a complete nightmare sometimes..(be you unknown poet or top teacher. Certainly for my part, and I think Stuart as a fine teacher in his own right) would agree, that rude poems about ‘bums’ or silly chants are not our site’s or my forte .I do like to introduce humour to break the ice and raise the energy though, so I will often use a Casio to get kids rappping , as I mentioned before.
I personally prefer to use relevant subjects and themes in The Game, like anti- racism,nostalgia and history in the hope that something will trigger and catch the eye,pen or ear.

I suppose i also like to think, naievely i guess,.that buried somewhere beneath the funny side of what I, and many who go into schools write , is a deeper message.Sometimes, if the sole object is to make people think a little, and perhaps do something creative with it (and ultimately their lives),.then who cares if we think he/ she (the funny poet) is rubbish.and even better.. if a student feels “I could do that miles better than them “..If so ,brilliant…that’s what we want..isn’t? and in a way main goal of session achieved in my book.
The danger is always failing to consider or realise where the poet is coming from..I know one thing ,however, that the poet should always be concerned with and aware of where the listener and student is coming from, both geographically and life-wise.
Whatever!

Source: https://footballpoets.org/poems/funny-poets-preservation-society-in-defence-of/