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The Roll Call Poem

As a poet I freely admit, I love an opportunity to indulge in a bit of wordplay...

Wordplay is an essential  life-source for poetry. For me, it adds instant appeal. 

This poem uses a list structure and relies on a host of names to add a dash of intentional humour. Hope you hear it as the roll is called.  


Roll call

In primary school

when my teacher called the roll each morning

to mark our attendance

our names were called

and we had to reply

PRESENT!

Once someone said,

PRESIDENT

-and everyone laughed

 

I can still recall many of those names

those faces

I remember them well,

our teacher calling on each of them to reply

as the roll was  marked.

They return once more…

 

Ben Downe –a flexible fellow

Phillip Yagob – always hungry

Al Batross- a bird lover

Robin Banks- collected coins

Rick O’Shea – always bouncing off walls

Peter Houtt- lacked energy

Ken Tuckey- loved fried chicken

Con Ickle– had a pointy head

Cara Larm-  often wailed for no reason

Eileen Over- had balance issues

Rose Thorn- rather prickly individual

Amy Abull- Sweet and friendly

Marge Areen- always wore yellow

Paige Turner- loved reading books

Molly Coddle – spoilt and needy

Teresa Green- nature lover

Terry Bull- a wicked boy.

© Alan j Wright





It is Poetry Friday once again and our host this week is Margaret Simon at Reflections On The Teche. Margaret shares news regarding a couple of interesting poetry sharing challenges in which she has recently been involved. I urge you to visit the link...






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Comments

  1. Denise Krebs4 June 2021 at 20:01

    Alan, there are some very funny names here. Most I've never heard before, and I did need the hints, like Amy Abull, Cara Larm, and Marge Areen. So cute! Yes, wordplay is sweet. My husband is the punny one in our household, so I am going to share these names with him!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright5 June 2021 at 16:29

      So pleased to hear you found humour in these words Denise. Also pleased to hear that you're sharing them further afield.

      Delete
  2. Linda B5 June 2021 at 05:03

    What an extraordinary class yet I believe you forgot one creative student, that one named Al Anrite! What fun this must have been to do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright5 June 2021 at 16:33

      You are most perceptive Linda- as I have come to expect. Maybe I was absent that day...
      It was indeed an enjoyable undertaking to write this poem. Wordplay is quite a driver for me, particularly when an element of humour creeps in.

      Delete
  3. Mary Lee6 June 2021 at 00:18

    HA! At first I was impressed that you remembered all these former classmates, but then...HAHA! Well played!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 June 2021 at 14:08

      Clearly a trick of the light Mary Lee... So glad you saw through my tricks.

      Delete
  4. Rose Cappelli6 June 2021 at 01:12

    Such fun, Alan! Thanks for bring a smile this morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 June 2021 at 14:08

      My pleasure Rose. Glad a smile was the outcome.

      Delete
  5. Carol Varsalona6 June 2021 at 04:17

    Alan, I remember the hand held hi and the word here. Your cast of characters in your poem are a hoot. I had to read each out loud to get the full dose of humor. Thanks for the fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 June 2021 at 14:11

      Ah those school days memories Carol. I too recall the word, here! By reading the poem out loud you get the full affect of the play on words within each name. I'm pleased you had some fun in this space.

      Delete
  6. Linda Mitchell6 June 2021 at 21:32

    Bwa ha ha ha! I have to admit....these made me giggle. What fun writing poems is. The secret is out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 June 2021 at 22:50

      Giggling is good Linda. Writing poems is indeed fun!

      Delete
  7. Margaret Simon6 June 2021 at 22:16

    What a fun list of names! I do love a good wordplay poem. Was this fun to write?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 June 2021 at 22:52

      Thanks Margaret. It was a most enjoyable poem to create. When wordplay is involved it's guaranteed to be fun.

      Delete
  8. Ruth7 June 2021 at 06:49

    What a wonderful class! I bet kids would love this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright7 June 2021 at 13:24

      Thanks Ruth. I hope they enjoy reading and listening to the intentional word play implicit in the poem.

      Delete
  9. Elisabeth7 June 2021 at 17:15

    What a punny roll call! Thanks for sharing this fun take on a list poem.

    ReplyDelete

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