Has anyone come across the West Indian poet John Agard? He haled from Guyana and I do enjoy his wit and humour. He writes in West Indian English, so you have to read this with the right accent:
FINDERS KEEPERS
This morning on the way to Charing Cross
I found a stiff upper lip
lying there on the train seat
Finders Keepers
I was tempted to scream
But something about that stiff upper lip
left me speechless
It looked so abandoned so unloved
like a frozen glove
nobody bothers to pick up
I could not bear to hand in
that stiff upper lip
to the Lost & Found
So I made a place for it
in the lining of my coat pocket
And I said
Come with me to the Third World
You go thaw off
Godschool's Blog 
wonderful
LikeLike
I’m pleased you like it!
LikeLike
Superb!
LikeLike
I’ll post one or two more, I think. Glad you like it.
LikeLike
What I particularly like, GillyK, is that a body part, which is one that is an expression of senses, in addition, it can also confirm them, is, here, a powerful metaphor. It becomes the focus in this prose. The provocative generation of thought of the metaphor thawing out is, for me, stunning. It is left to individual imagination as to what might occur.
LikeLike
An expression of a culture, too – that’s what for me is so clever – expressed with humour – and, perhaps, a hint that other cultures feel they have to be patient with us?
LikeLike
No doubt about the expression of culture, which, is why a thaw would be fascinating.
LikeLike
I once heard a Nigerian church leader in a report-back after his trip to England, give us his forthright views on some aspects of our culture which he did not find acceptable. It does us good from time to time to see ourselves as others see us.
LikeLike
The stiff upper lip is, I think accepted as a cultural/behavioural expectation for our lot, in particular, with men, even today. It is so imbued into certain ‘classes’ and sectors of function, I doubt that it takes much discussion. Not unless, there is going to be a change in the acceptance of the stiff upper lip culture as part of the British psyche.
LikeLike
There is a lot less of it than there used to be. But we still have a tendency to feel we should tough things out and not ‘make a fuss’.
LikeLike
That’s for sure and, there are many who would fuss enough for others to flee from. There must be a happy median, though again, judging it would be difficult and subjective.
LikeLike
Yes indeed one person’s fuss is another person’s drama.
So are you practising your stiff upper lip for your surgery next week? Mine is on my right thumb and now I keep missing the M and N because I am having to use my index finger for that and the space bar! Is yours port or starboard?
LikeLike
In shipping terms, I think I might be port…not being an expert on that, it’s left.
Stiff upper lip, what’s that?
Your index finger must be getting rather stretched, acrobatically speaking!!
How’s the thumb, thus far?
LikeLike
Anaesthetic beginning to wear off … am waiting to see
LikeLike
Try resting it a bit. Did the medics make any suggestions about immediate care of thumb?
LikeLike
Yes – whole sheet of instructions!
LikeLike
They were intent on you resting in a chair and taking lots of time reading the instructions….have you?
LikeLike
Yes ma’am 😉 I’m the sort of tedious perso who always reads i structions!!
LikeLike
….and understands what to do?
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
My thumb now online.
😉
LikeLike
That is IMMENSE 88|
LikeLike
Yes it was….and under that abomination of bandage and wadding, supporting itself, my thumb was getting no benefit whatsoever.
LikeLike
so how is it now?
LikeLike
Ah, I see you haven’t looked at my postings. All is revealed there!
😉
LikeLike
I could imagine it in real West Indian accent.
LikeLike
It works, doesn’t it!
LikeLike
Not bad….I had not heard of him.
P xx
LikeLike
He did have some poems on the underground including a very funny one about a crocodile – but can I track it down???
LikeLike
I’ve never heard of him before either gilly, sounds good though 🙂 Good luck tomorrow x
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Barbara. Agard is fun and also thought-provoking about culture and about racial assumptions. Sometimes poetry can be subversive!
LikeLike
I’ll look him up tomorrow..thank you,Gilly.
LikeLike
Think you’ll enjoy his poetry, Kathryn :yes:
LikeLike
Yes,I will.:)xx
LikeLike
Brilliant! Not heard of him….Thanks….;)xx
LikeLike
Have fun tracking down some more, if you feel so inclined!
LikeLike