poetry thursday prompt #2
Benjamin Zephaniah's Miss World was interesting to hear because I'd read it as a full on rant but listen to Benjamin's reading and there's quite a carribean lilt to it. It reminded me of a skipping song.
Miss World (listen here)
Beauty is about how you behold
more than silver more than gold
if I say I am beautiful
it means beauty is accessible,
beauty is about how you greet
de everyday people dat you meet
you are beautiful so all rejoice
your beauty is a natural choice.
My sister is a beautiful girl
she don't want to be Miss World
her value is not prize money
more value than a pearl
my sister is a beautiful girl
human delight
she could be out of sight but she would rather stay and fight.
Her legs are firm and strong
best for self-defence
my sister kicks like wildfire
so cause her no grievance
she won't walk the platform
to upsex people's lust
and you can't get the number of her height, age or bust,
she don't want to go to the market
to be viewed like a slave
the viewing time is over
put de judge in the grave,
she don't need to go to the market
'cause she's already won
beauty contest no contest
she don't need to run.
I talk 'bout people in society who judge you by your looks, den,
give you a number dat is written in a book, and, lustful eyes
from all around come to look at you, and, day judge your lifetime
by a quick interview.
My sister is a beautiful girl
But she don't want to be Miss World
her personality cannot be rewarded by no judge or earl.
My sister is a beautiful girl
She needs no contest
and you can't put her with another judging who's the best.
And you cannot judge my sister's heart
By looking at her breasts.
Copyright: Benjamin Zephaniah.
Final choice is Sylvia Plath's Lady Lazarus. I'd first read the blurb about how she took her life four months later and I was expecting some whimpering verse - but no! It's punchy, forthright and quite menacing I thought.
Lady Lazarus (listen here)
It's a long poem so please just follow the link and listen - it's powerful stuff!
I've noticed that all three choices use sound rhymes - Hegley for comic effect, Benjamen gives it a song-like beat and Plath, subtler than the other two, kind of traps and wraps you up with them.
Miss World (listen here)
Beauty is about how you behold
more than silver more than gold
if I say I am beautiful
it means beauty is accessible,
beauty is about how you greet
de everyday people dat you meet
you are beautiful so all rejoice
your beauty is a natural choice.
My sister is a beautiful girl
she don't want to be Miss World
her value is not prize money
more value than a pearl
my sister is a beautiful girl
human delight
she could be out of sight but she would rather stay and fight.
Her legs are firm and strong
best for self-defence
my sister kicks like wildfire
so cause her no grievance
she won't walk the platform
to upsex people's lust
and you can't get the number of her height, age or bust,
she don't want to go to the market
to be viewed like a slave
the viewing time is over
put de judge in the grave,
she don't need to go to the market
'cause she's already won
beauty contest no contest
she don't need to run.
I talk 'bout people in society who judge you by your looks, den,
give you a number dat is written in a book, and, lustful eyes
from all around come to look at you, and, day judge your lifetime
by a quick interview.
My sister is a beautiful girl
But she don't want to be Miss World
her personality cannot be rewarded by no judge or earl.
My sister is a beautiful girl
She needs no contest
and you can't put her with another judging who's the best.
And you cannot judge my sister's heart
By looking at her breasts.
Copyright: Benjamin Zephaniah.
Final choice is Sylvia Plath's Lady Lazarus. I'd first read the blurb about how she took her life four months later and I was expecting some whimpering verse - but no! It's punchy, forthright and quite menacing I thought.
Lady Lazarus (listen here)
It's a long poem so please just follow the link and listen - it's powerful stuff!
I've noticed that all three choices use sound rhymes - Hegley for comic effect, Benjamen gives it a song-like beat and Plath, subtler than the other two, kind of traps and wraps you up with them.
posted by Ian russell at 1:40 PM
3 Comments:
Fantastic link...Thanks!!!
I think my favorite kind of out loud poetry is beatnik. I wish there was a poetry cafe around here - do they still do that?
When I write poetry I don't count words or syllables or even lines. I purely go on how it sounds to me.
did you manage to make realplayer work and listen to the readings? i hope so.
for some reason, realplayer has been temperamental on my machines.
i don't know about cafes but I think they have open mic (mike?) nights in some pubs in the UK. i've never been to any myself. in cheltenham - near to where i live - they have an annual literary festival which involves some poetry i'm sure.
I already had realplayer downloaded so I had no problems.
Beatnik cafes..where everyone wears berets and the poets are backed by a bass, trumpet and a drum...how cool would that be!
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