Poetry Forum

The Common Reader

Looks like he works out. And, to judge
from those tan lines, takes his holidays
abroad. He sports a Ralph Lauren
equestrian above his left breast

and sips a cup of fairtrade coffee
with a connoisseur's studied nonchalance.
Probably has a humanities degree
from Oxbridge, although he was never

a border. Knows a little Spanish
from a gap year spent in South America
where he acquired a taste for tequila
and the flamenco guitar. Adores

Frank O'Hara but has heard bad things
about Ezra Pound. Can recite an ode
or sonnet as the occasion requires
and thinks the King James Bible a fantastic

achievement of language. Has a Facebook
account but rarely tweets. Prefers rugby
to football, recycles, votes Labour, drinks real ale
and listens to vinyl and Test Match Special.

Is sure of the difference between Marvell
and DC comics and spends one afternoon
a week assiduously researching
the plot structure of an historical

novel ideal for film adaptation.
Abhors gendered pronouns and, in spite
of all the evidence to the contrary,
still believes that art can change your life.

Hmmmmm.
Love the last line.

Pretty much would enjoy a conversation with the man, if it excluded rugby and politians.

This made me smile.

Thanks.
Suzanne

Excellent. I feel like I know him. I love the Ezra Pound bit and the 5th stanza. You want boarder, not border, I'm not sure if humanities and fairtrade should not be capitalised.

Knows a little Spanish
from a gap year spent in South America - I think omitting spent would help the rhythm.

Is sure of the difference between Marvell
and DC comics and spends one afternoon

Whether you mean Marvell or Marvel this strikes me as the weakest lines of the poem.

Doesn't sound like a very common reader to me. Perhaps that's the point. I like the slow-working malice of the last two lines.

I like the idea of confusing Marvell and DC comics too, but I see Ray's picked that up already.

Cheers

David

You have certainly pinned the specimen accurately. Good portrayal of a certain type of person. I'm not sure how the title fits the poem.

I loved this read and for me, the title fits well, as I see it, referring to the Virginia Woolf classic collection of essays in which, "Above all, he is guided by an instinct to create for himself, out of whatever odds and ends he can come by, some kind of whole--a portrait of a man, a sketch of an age, a theory of the art of writing."

One minor little point. Perhaps the "gap year in South America" could be changed to indicate Jalisco, Mexico, from where Tequila comes? Not much identification with Tequila in South America.

Very much liked this.

Steve

Glad everyone liked it, thanks, and thanks for the suggestions/corrections. Not that it matters, but this all sprang from a brief conversation with a complete stranger in a coffee shop who had some poetry collections piled up in front of him. Anyways, it made me consider stereotypes of one kind and another, though I should add I have no idea if they apply to the gentleman in question.

Steve- good spot on the Woolf, that's a really great collection of essays.

David, I'm intrigued you got malice from the last lines, I was going for mild exasperation!!!

Hey Henry,

The title verges on being patronising perhaps. I adopted a toff's timbre when reading aloud and that somehow worked.

I don't think it works as a poem, but there's something here that might serve a film script or short story.

Big love

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