Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Engineer's Thumb

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Welcome once again to my poetry page!

I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative and then be inspired to write a poem related to it in some way. All forms of poetry are permitted, and further down the page there is a selection you might like to consider using over the coming weeks.


This week my featured form is the fable.

Shadow Poetry gives the following definition:

A fable is a poetic story composed in verse or prose with a moral summed up at the end. Usually using animals as characters to teach a valuable lesson.

In fact, in my fable, I will be using Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as characters.

I make no further comment.



Here is my example poem:


Having a set of rooms to rent
I was pleased to get a proper gent
Who brought along an army friend
Wanting peace while on the mend.
I truly thought my luck was in
And bought a celebratory quart of gin.


But soon came visitors galore
And I was expected to answer the door!
Experiments, bulletholes and the floor littered with papers
(And the friend only encouraged his detective capers.)
Then he started on his violin…
I went and bought a gallon of gin.

And so the moral of 221B:
Always get references before handing over the key.


As always, this is simply something to consider for the future. Any form of poetry is welcome this week—and every week! Here are a few suggestions for you:

221B verselet, abecedarian poetry, acrostic poetry, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, concrete poetry, diamante, epigram, fable, haiku, limerick, palindrome poetry, riddle, sedoka, sestina, sonnet, tanka, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle


Please leave all your poems inspired by The Engineer’s Thumb in the comments on this post. I look forward to seeing them!


Warm regards,

Mrs. Hudson

Comments

A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

A young engineer of hydraulics
Was caught up in murderous frolics.
A fuller’s earth press to put right
In the middle of the night?
It was of course all complete— [and here unfortunately Dr. Watson’s writing becomes illegible.]

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[debriswoman]

Or...perhaps...fortunately...

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm rather curious - I just can't imagine what the last word could be...

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[debriswoman]

Chocoholics...it being Easter and all...

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I suppose so... *sighs* I simply can't think of anything else that would rhyme...

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

The good doctor was clearly struggling with this particular rhyme, I believe a previous version concluded with "It was enough to make us all alcoholics". Although goodness knows what he had in mind.

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[debriswoman]

Ah, Mrs H...you are trying so hard to justify your purchase of a " gallon of gin".

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

How fortunate the cat isn't in the room! What an excellent idea, and it's fine rhythm and rhyme, too.

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Yes, Dr. Watson was such a flexible writer ^__^

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Well, there aren't many words that rhyme with "hydraulics" are there? I guess it will forever remain a mystery. Alas. The limerick was off to such a good start, too. :-p

Re: A limerick found amongst Dr. Watson’s private papers

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if Dr. Watson had used some kind of medical expression... *shrugs*

A cinquain

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

The price
Fifty guineas
The engineer was hooked
Yet he had not grasped the true cost:
His thumb

Re: A cinquain

[debriswoman]

Oh, very neat:-)

Re: A cinquain

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

Re: A cinquain

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Very well done ^_^ An excellent build up and twist - I love those last two lines.

Re: A cinquain

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. I was very taken with the true value of the work.

Re: A cinquain

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

I love the economy of words inherent in this form. And you manage to say so much with so little! :)

Re: A cinquain

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying the chance to use these forms of poetry. Thank you very much.

Your poem, Mrs Hudson

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

You indeed have the patience of a saint. And had you replaced your lodgers with two cats you would have had far less work.

Re: Your poem, Mrs Hudson

[debriswoman]

Oh indeed, Mrs Hudson...or perhaps two mice...

I hope the gin was a one off purchase...it won't solve anything in the long run...

Re: Your poem, Mrs Hudson

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Mr. Holmes talks of eventually retiring to Sussex - it's something to cling to...

Re: Your poem, Mrs Hudson

[debriswoman]

Hold on to that, Mrs H, hold on to that...

Re: Your poem, Mrs Hudson

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

A very lovely poem, Mrs. H! Come on, admit it, you must like having Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson there at least a little. Look at how much inspiration they provide for your poetry!

Re: Your poem, Mrs Hudson

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

"Look at how much inspiration..." (!) I know one must suffer for one's art but there are limits. (Where did I put that gin? If he's been using it in his experiments again...)

Re: A short lesson

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

*groan* An admiring groan, mind you. (Though, Hatherley didn't think he was doing anything very shady.)

Re: A short lesson

[debriswoman]

Sorry about that:-p
And yes...Hatherley was not aware of evil doings, but is unlikely to have taken the job for a normal fee, I suspect:-)

Re: A short lesson

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Yes, a killer last line ^^"

There was a pretty clear moral to poor Hatherley's experience.

Re: A short lesson

[debriswoman]

Indeed:-)

Re: A short lesson

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Delighted to see the appalling puns are rubbing off on you!

Re: A short lesson

[debriswoman]

Thank you
I believe it is the company I keep...

Re: A short lesson

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I especially like "moral compass shatters" and, of course, the punny last line. A fine "lesson" indeed. :)

Re: A short lesson

[debriswoman]

Thank you :-)