The spires watch nightmares planned below, for citizenry
Who should have no foe.' From within its boundry's
They're to be fools on show, the first of April, auspisces
Known.' The donkeys are leading all reason has flown.'
Six the number..' of zones in plan? to destroy cohesion
Do we give a damn.? In academia many need real learning'
We experience much deluge, and yet there's lots of chat; that
The planet; is burning.?
The year-end creeps, mercuries freeze,
And buzz up English dictionaries,
All in a forward gear
To find Word of the Year,
Which, for Oxford is the slang rizz—
An argot not so clear,
Froth less, bubbleless beer,
Or a cola lost of all fizz!
__________________________________
Happenings |02.12.2023| word
Poet’s note: Rizz, this year’s Word of the Year, is a slang that means style, charm, attractiveness, ability to attract romantic or sexual partner, and a few more vague things as per Oxford University Press. Big deal!
Beyond the imposing and the high iron gate
The picturesque setting of the Oxford University
Situates the hedonistic oriented Bullingdon Club
Founded more than 200 years ago.
The socially exclusive students get the invitation
To join the Club as its elite members
Many of whom have attained prominence
And position of power in Britain’s political arena.
The ill-famed Club is known for
Its wealthy members and their notorious behavior
Partaking in the boisterous rituals such as
Vandalizing restaurants and students’ rooms.
The Club’s colors are sky blue and shining ivory
Seen on the tailcoats the members wear
For the annual dinner where the drunken revelers
Greet each other chanting “buller, buller, buller”.
The Club has survived the roller-coaster ride
Lurching between frequent recruitment crises
And nearly facing the shut down
But the buller has a way of bouncing back.
The distinctiveness of its haughty members
Reflected in their one-upmanship attitude
Took them to eminence along the tough tracks
The outside world is skeptic about their dubious traits.
____________
April 7, 2023
Contest : Bullingdon Boys
Spoinsored by : Joe Maverick
Is it poetry or prose
Who really knows
Must it be in a shelf
To rename itself.
This is a conundrum which has appeared here, in various guises over the many years I have enjoyed the talented 'writes' of the talented scribes who contribute their thoughts/feelings/desires and offerings in many forms.
However, the famous Irish playwright and wit, Brendan Behan was invited many years ago to Oxford University, to participate in a debate on this topic.
His opponent spoke eloquently for almost two hours on the important distinctions and the quality of prose.
Behan then rose to his feet and promised to be brief . He recited an old Dublin rhyme .
" THERE WAS A YOUNG FELLA NAMED ROLLOCKS
WHO WORKED FOR FERRIER POLLOCKS
AS HE WALKED ON THE STRAND
WITH A GIRL, BY THE HAND
THE WATER CAME UP TO HIS .... ANKLES"
"That" declared Behan "is prose. But if the tide had been in , it would have been poetry".