Sunday 29 August 2010

Poetry bus drummer

This week's Poetry Bus Challenge has to do with our early memories of school. On reading Dominic Rivron's poem I was reminded of a one and only performance of a primary school orchestra of which I was a member, our average age was about 5. In limerick form here's the tale of one unfortunate drummer and his teacher.

a music teacher (first grade)
gave instruments out to be played,
one boy banged a drum: TOM! TOM! TOM! ...
bashed holes in the skin with aplomb
until the teacher cried STOP! her nerves frayed

but not to be defeated she fished around in a large box and after some minutes the problem was solved:

the drum was removed from the band
and the answer appeared in her hand
a triangle instead
'now hit it gently' she said
and with a smile she regained her command
-

17 comments:

  1. Frayed nerves is a well-known by-product of teaching, especially where infant bands are concerned. I know, I have been there, done that and got the frayed nerve-ends to prove it.

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  2. Teachers are tougher than that! LOL :)
    I'm not sure I have your email, so forgive this going here - every word of it is true...

    Holiday Jolliday

    Blogese is a language that's growing,
    almost without Gwilym knowing
    why a word he invented,
    though not what he meant, is
    suddenly doing the rounds!

    To noyder (a verb) is such a good word
    as are nedglim, and flenny and loopig
    they seem to be spreading
    like confetti at a wedding,
    with magical speed that astounds.

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  3. Oh the memories of the reception classes floods back!hmmmm.

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  4. Thanks for the lovely comments and especially jinksy for the double-limerick, which inspired me to reveal using the same modus the true-life solution to the teacher's dilemma.

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  5. I loved playing triangle! It must be a teachers godsend during music based lessons :-)
    nice bit of writing!

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  6. Love the smile in the second half!
    x

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  7. the watercats,
    yes the traingle is a teacher's godsend, and

    Rachel, it's of course her smile of final victory!

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  8. Somewhere there is a photo of me at the age of four playing triangle in the Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Day Nursery.

    I do not remember having had a drum taken away, though.

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  9. Now I know why I was always handed the triangle.

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  10. What fun! Who'd be a kids' music teacher.

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  11. Thank you for all the comments.

    Pawtucket Day Nursery sounds like a great place for a child to learn to master the intricacies of the triangle.

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  12. I can just imagine an orchestra of 5 year-olds! Ouch.

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  13. Fantastic! I'm delighted the kid had such ham fisted fun with the drum!

    Please tell me he cracked the triangle?

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  14. Thanks Nanu, TFE and Karen. Your visits and comments are much appreciated!

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