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Patrick Daley! [Applause]
The first one is
in a rather simple
language form
(but) it IS meant partly for children
I hope it's grown-up enough for you in places!
It's called 'NOTHING SIRIUS' [serious]
The Cat
sat
on the Mat . . . ("miaouw")
So the Mat
sat
on the Cat! ("MIAOUW-ow!!")
The Cat said,
"What you AT?"
The Mat said, "Wot was YOU at?"
The Cat miaouwed
"Let me OOUUUT!!"
Said the Mat,
"No need to shout."
and let the the Cat slide out
The Cat then
clawed the Mat
The Mat winced, "OUCH!!
Stop it,
you LOUT!!"
Said the Cat,
"Hmn! No need to shout . . ." [Laughter]
The Dog-Star barked to see such fun
The Cat and the Mat took off at a run,
Flew up and hid at the back of the Moon,
Which shook its new-grown horns and mooed,
Then laughed and laughed like that French cow
While Mat and Cat,
I'm glad to say
Made up and stuck, mates to this day . . .
In fact, I was out to lunch with them just last week. They said they'd come and do a turn.
Where are they?
Can I stop talking in words of ONE syllable now, please? [Laughter, applause]
Next one's a bit more serious
It's a birthday poem for an old lady
on her umpty-umpth birthday
a strong, beautiful woman
and you're to
imagine that we're looking through her photo album and we're just going to
stick in a picture from
the birthday party.
It's sort of like a sonnet, but it doesn't follow all the rules.
PICTURES. Three photos from an album.
THE CLASS
Already such a striking child Alone among that paler, pudding crowd
Her fine, dark eyes that are too wise, too wild
Command your gaze and are not dropped nor cowed.
DAY OUT. She sparkles by a rail, her eyes Now deep and dark but warm as pools beneath
The ice of summer dawns
assess, surprise,
Invite. She shall have fun -
- or else, why breathe?
PARTY
Her silent eyes shine loud with life
Mid flocking, flutt'ring guests, her look speaks straight
Of dreams and hopes and loss and love and strife
The yearning that the years do not abate
For every eye that stares yet slips and swerves
So sliding shallow -
these are ours. Not hers.
[Pause] [Applause] Thank you.
Thank you. The last one
Is also a birthday celebration and when I tell you
that I wrote it and put it up last, er, whatever it was -
23rd of April - you'll know whose birthday it is.
[Title 'Happy Birthday Will Shakespeare (Now with added Spirit')] Today it is his Birthday,
Will the Swan
An' if it will or no, Will's still The One
Whose quill o'erruns with iambs freshly gilded
While not yet turns a line as sweet as Will did
[Laughter]
On such a day,
I'd have Him at my side
([Will's Spirit]: "So much ado,")
he'd say,
([Will's Spirit]: "let instinct guide."
My falt'ring hand would still . . .
Aye, there's the rub . . .
Perchance he dreams
[calls Spirit] RETURN!
([Will's Spirit:] "Let's to the pub!"
[Laughter] [Applause] Thank you very much! [Exit, pursuing a Ghost]