Poets Corner

The labor on the Pointless Digressions deck continues, and I was moved to call the workmen together for a poetry break, an aesthetic respite from their toil.  I was moved so to do by the example of Bill Murray, who donned a hard hat and read poems to the construction crew at work on Poets House in Manhattan.  (This coming together can be found on Youtube--simply Google "Bill Murray Reading Poems" or, as it has been called, "Gathering Paradise.")

Not wanting to tax my listeners, I began with a few simple rhymes, including "A wonderful bird is the pelican/Its beak can hold more than its belly can."

After a bit more of this, Dwayne, the foreman of the crew, said he and his mates would like to recite a few poems.  I smiled indulgently and sat back, waiting to hear what simple verses they might attempt.  Then Dwayne recited all of "Il Paradiso."

Next, Chuck put down his drill and ran through a few of Shakespeare's sonnets.  He was followed by Gus, who gave us Catullus in the original bawdy Latin.  The workers' presentation was completed by Myrna, who recited with great sensitivity poems of Emily Dickinson.

"Now, sir," said Dwayne, "after our humble offering, perhaps you would favor us with another reading."

Rummaging quickly through the near depleted storehouse of my mind, I came up with "Candy is dandy/But liquor is quicker." 

"Quite right, sir," said Dwayne, opening his lunchbox and taking out a shaker of Martinis.  "Olive or twist?"