I needed a poetry collection to fulfill one of my Pop Sugar Reading Challenge prompts for the year. I heard that Serious Concerns by Wendy Cope was a humorous collection, so I dug around and ordered a copy from the interlibrary loan system at the university library (sadly, this book only came from UW-Madison, so it's not like it travelled far). This book was published in 1992, but it was so yellowed and stained that I sort of assumed it had been published far before then, but then I did the math and realized it was more than thirty years old. *sigh* Time is passing by, isn't it?
This was fun! I had fun! Look at some funny poems.
I think that "The Orange" is maybe Cope's most famous poem, but what do I know? It makes me laugh every time I read it, particularly the first stanza.
But, somehow I laughed even harder at "An Argument with Wordsworth." Why not pick an argument with a guy who's been dead for a 150-years?
But it's not all fun and games, you know? There were occasional heartfelt poems in there. Consider "Names."
Anyway, if you're looking for a quick poetry collection that will give you an occasional chuckle, this one might be it! 4.5/5 stars
No hats, friends. No hats.
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Has anyone else read Wendy Cope? Do you have a favorite humorous poet?
The only one of her poems I've read is The Orange, as it's in a Julie Andrews poetry anthology. But that Names one. Oof. Beautiful. Reminded me a bit of the book The Swimmers.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a Swimmers sort of vibe. "Names" is sort of an outlier in this book.
DeleteI really enjoy Wendy Cope too! She really captures a lot of how I feel about the every normal day of existence. She has poem I love called "Being Boring".
ReplyDeletehttps://apoemaday.tumblr.com/post/666662706720505856/being-boring
an excerpt:
There was drama enough in my turbulent past:
Tears and passion - I've used up a tankful.
No news is good news, and long may it last.
If nothing much happens, I'm thankful.
A happier cabbage you never did see,
My vegetable spirits are soaring.
If you're after excitement, steer well clear of me.
I want to go on being boring.
We joke about how a boring life is a good life at our house! What a fun poem. I love it.
DeleteWell, now I'm sad (Names!) But overall this sounds like a fun collection.
ReplyDeleteI liked it. I need to read more poetry. It makes me feel like I'm one of the cool kids.
DeleteOh, my. That last poem. So poignant.
ReplyDeleteI love Shel Silverstein for fun/funny poems. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" is so much fun when you read it to kids, but it's still fun read on its own as a grownup, too.
One of the funniest bunch of poems I ever read was the collection of "Them" poems by Mason Williams. They're all hilarious.
*Hey, I hope you're feeling lots better!
Maybe humorous poetry will become my new thing. Thanks for the Williams recommendation. I'll check it out!
DeleteNever heard of her but loved the pages/poems that you shared here.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Thanks for visiting! Maybe you'll become a Wendy Copes fan, too!
DeleteI have never heard of her but it looks like an entertaining read. I dont think I have ever read a poetry book...
ReplyDeletePoetry isn't my main genre, either, but it is nice once in a while. It makes me feel smart.
DeleteI've not read a book of poetry, since Where the Sidewalk Ends as a kid. We loved that one. These poem are so clever. No hat mentions. Imagine? I love the Nanna one.
ReplyDeleteEvery child had a Shel Silverstein phase, didn't they?!
DeleteThat last one hits hard.
ReplyDeleteIt really does. The circle of life told through names.
DeleteWendy Cope! The Wordsworth poem reminded me of her A.E. Housman one:
ReplyDeleteAnother Unfortunate Choice
I think I am in love with A.E. Houseman,
Which puts me in a worse-than-usual fix.
No woman ever stood a chance with Houseman
And he's been dead since 1936.
And also the one about Emily Dickinson:
Higgledy-piggledy
Emily Dickinson
Liked to use dashes
Instead of full stops.
Nowadays, faced with such
Idiosyncrasy,
Critics and editors
Send for the cops.
Dorothy Parker has many similar literature-themed funnies starting with "A Pig's Eye View of Literature" (all the famous names here Rossetti, Tennyson, Dickens, etc. have some tongue-in-cheek reference: https://www.poemist.com/dorothy-parker/poems ). Thanks for the chance to remember, Engie!
I knew you would appreciate this, Maya, if no one else did!
DeleteSORRY I'M A NERD!
DeleteNo apologies needed! I was so excited to hear what you would think of the fact that I read a poetry book when I published this. It was basically JUST FOR YOU.
DeleteAw!!!!!!
DeleteI hadn't heart of Dorothy Parker, but this sounds like just my kind of poetry!
ReplyDeleteMaya is always teaching us something, isn't she?
DeleteI hope not in an insufferable kind of way :/ I just get excited about things.
DeleteNO! In a perfect way. I would never read these wonderful poems without your guidance.
DeleteAll the <3s, Engie!
Delete