Making Light

[heslopian]

Over turkey dad explained
just why two men can't consunmate
their "sacred" wedding vows.
I paused for comic effect at this point.
My fork, having speared
a lump of white meat,
halted in mid-air; I rolled my eyes
then put it back on the plate.
Nanny laughed. She was the only one
who'd noticed my gag.

[billy]

all i can say is "nanny sounded like a wise woman"

not sure everyone will get the joke jack

will post more of a comment later

[addy]

I'm embarrassed to say...I didn't get the joke

But I like the main idea of the poem. That's exactly how homophobia should be treated; with an eyeroll. (because, really? Really??). This poem isn't showy in terms of language or imagery... just direct, simple, and snappy, which I also like. Thanks for the post

[Bianca Alabaster]

good funny poem. marriage is the sacred union not the event of the honeymoon. sshheesh. Like the poem! lol

[billy]

Over turkey dad explained
just why two men can't consumate
their "sacred" wedding vows.
I paused for comic effect at this point.
My fork, having speared
a lump of white meat,
halted in mid-air; I rolled my eyes
then put it back on the plate.
Nanny laughed. She was the only one
who'd noticed my gag.

consummate<----
the way it's told holds a vignette of family life at the dinner table.
you seeming shocked at your dad's words and nanny knowing better. (i think ) not earth shattering but effective, funny and realistically life like.

i saw someone say at du, it's like bukowski. for me it has a modern oscar wild feel about it. (bukowski was a ladies man.) or a perfect stephen fry anecdote.
thanks for the read.

[heslopian]

@addy - Thanks for the kind words addy I did originally intend this poem to be much longer, but then I decided to strip it down, and let the reader make what they want of the straightforward scene.

---

@billy - Thanks for the feedback Billy I'll change that spelling in a mo. My Nan doesn't know any better haha. I think she simply laughed at my prudishness, even if it was feigned. My dad's exact words were: "they can't consummate a marriage 'cause they don't have the right bits!" I wasn't really shocked (he's said MUCH worse) just annoyed that he'd say it over Christmas dinner.

Yeah I've been compared to Bukowski before, no doubt because we're both free verse, and a lot of my poems focus on mundane events, or personal reflections, but aside from those tenuous links, we have very little in common. As you said, he was a ladies man, who often wrote about sleeping with beautiful women, and how they drain your soul.

I don't see the Wilde connection myself (he would have been much more cutting and lyrical than this, I think) though I'll gladly accept the comparison! haha My brother Kane always calls me Stephen Fry when he's home from university

---

Thanks for your kind words, Bianca