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My grandmother ended a letter at the end of January 1949 with these words, "Victor sure has a dandy girl. She is worse than the weather if you ask me." I can practically hear the humph in the antique ink.
Finally, after line after line of daily household details, something juicy. Now, what to do with those two sentences? I have a few attempts scribbled in my notebooks but this triolet makes me giggle.
But is it Love?
Victor sure has a dandy girlShe’s worse than the weather if you ask me
Sunny one minute then next a churl
Victor sure has a dandy girl
He’s a head-over-heels tilt-a-whirl
wrapped ‘round her little finger don’t you see?
Victor sure has a dandy girl
She’s worse than weather if you ask me
(c) Linda Mitchell 4/29/22
I found stars at school again. These delighted me as they were in response to a read-aloud of, What do you do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada (Compendium 2014). This kid has no idea how delightful it was for me to grade their paper! it's on the padlet: https://padlet.com/mitchellhubeimom/4bzbfu2cg5k7awk5
How can it be that April is over? I was just adjusting to the writing schedule? We Inklings are paying homage to someone else's National Poetry Project with our poems next week, the first week of May. If you want to look over some of the projects they are at Jama's
Don't forget to stop by Jone's wonderful blog for the Poetry Friday round-up. She amazes me regularly with her interviews and interesting poetry posts.
Linda, who can believe that it is the end of April. Oh, my! I need to get my metaphor poem off to Taylor Mali. Your triolet sets the tone for a dandy Poetry Friday, It is a juicy tidbit that you handled so well and hinted at more. Your grandmother has her convictions. You're my first stop before I head over to our host, Jone's blog. I stopped at your wonderful padlet poem and I also read Star Car that is imaginative. Oh, to be driving in the universe among the stars! I am having fun reading your post again. It inspires me to finish my post.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about already over--how is it possible that the month is nearly gone and I haven't quite got IN a groove?! Your grandmother's dandy line is so interesting to me--there must be a use of 'dandy' that I don't quite get to make it fit with that glorious "worse than the weather" line. You did it justice! My favorite part of the student paper is the speech bubble that says "Cliche."
ReplyDeleteLOL! My Grandma's Grandfather was from England. I've heard from British TV the term "fancy man." I read this as a similar term...just "dandy girl." But, I could be completely wrong.
DeleteOh, Linda, wow. I'm so glad you found those sweet lines from your grandma. Yes, your magic makes your readers smile too--the rhyming the added lines which fit perfectly with her lines, like this one: "He’s a head-over-heels tilt-a-whirl" Wow.
ReplyDeleteThe stars and writing in the child's perspective about one of my favorite books was lovely too!
My, my grandma, what's up with Victor's "dandy girl"?! Your triolet riffs grandma's juicy judgement with weathered wonderment, Linda! Well done!
ReplyDeleteJuicy lines indeed -- LOVE your triolet. I can see an entire poem sequence about Victor and his dandy girl. Intriguing!!
ReplyDeleteWell I know how your grandmother felt... (mother of a boy! -wink wink!) -- Such a hilarious line and I love how you played it up in your poem! -- BTW, I hope that boy got an A on that assignment!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard "worse than the weather", seems a rank opinion from your grandmother, though considering we are so dry with more wind today, I believe I understand. "Dandy" can clearly have many meanings & your triolet gives both the emphasis she seems to want. What fun, Linda!
ReplyDeleteI loved "Finally, after line after line of daily household details, something juicy." I can totally imagine your pleasure at finding something to sink your poetic teeth into :) "Worse than the weather" is a great expression. I would love to read a poem from Victor's girl's POV.
ReplyDeleteooooh! What a great idea
DeleteI'd like to know where your grandmother lived, because "worse than the weather" could be really terrible depending on location! I love the title and how you used your grandmother's line.
ReplyDeleteA dandy poem about a dandy girl. Would love to know if that girl was brave enough to stick around with a mother in law who felt that way, lol. And your star is indeed a star!
ReplyDeleteHA! You nailed it! "Dandy" indeed!!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! What a deliciously snarky poem.
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect. I love, love, love the line "worse than the weather." Talk about a found poem. I love how you expanded upon those lines.
ReplyDeleteThis is such fun, Linda! I love how you wrote that you could "practically hear the humph in the antique ink." You really took your grandmother's lines and ran with them! Perfection!
ReplyDeleteWhat a dandy poem you created Linda, Love it! I have a book of poetry written by my grandmother, and I may have to hunt around for a few lines to borrow… Love the star poem coming from your student too, thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love this! So glad you found that juicy little line and were inspired to write. I'm reminded of the line from Alice Roosevelt, "If you can't say something good about someone, sit here by me." :D
ReplyDeleteLOVE this poem, Linda. I can just hear my grandma and great gunts in that turn of phrase - and your poem is the perfect response!
ReplyDelete