Influencing #poetry #poem

Posted on Jul 19, 2020 by TanGental

It’s been a while since I did one of these. Edward Thomas wrote Adlestrop which was voted the twentieth most popular poem in English by the BBC’s audience. This is the link to the original. This is my rewritten version, using the first line and the same meter and format.

Yes. I remember Adlestrop.

A knowall influencer whose

perfect abs and chiselled jaw

couldn’t hide his obnoxious views.

He’d post his stream of consciousness,

filling the ether day and night,

promoting a witchy brew that

was full of nothing except for shite.

Would I follow this lumpen prat?

I’d rather kiss a scaly frog,

or eat my spleen, or follow golf,

Or even pat a burning dog.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.

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