Poems give me the “ick” AIBU?

[Nevergotdivorced]

I saw an estrangement thread on Gransnet, the OP had sent her estranged daughter a card with a poem she had composed.

My immediate thought was NO!

I then thought I was being a bit harsh and some people would find it moving.

I think it’s really cringy.

Musicals are RANK.

When musical goers announce they’re “going to the theatre [to see Cats or Hamilton or whatever”, I crrrrrringe deeply. You’re not truly going to The They-are-ter. You’re going to a fucking sing-a-long. Stop dressing it up like high culture.

The only thing worse than a musical or Hallmark poem is… the pantomime.

I get very cross when I am asked to read poetry or prose written by a friend. It’s so awkward - usually it is not my thing but I never want to say that to someone I like.

@MauriceTheMussel I really like musicals- I know they’re cheesy and ridiculous but I enjoy them anyway. Most of them are not singalong though! You’d get glared at if you joined in.

Totally with you on pantomimes though. Absolutely unbearable cringe. Even worse: ‘adult pantomimes’ a la Jim Davidson. 😩🤢

As a child I saw Grease in the West End. At 13 I knew I’d no longer be going to Heaven…

Tis not “singalong” I s’pose, it’s the awkward segue into song. Just fucking say it! And if it’s something like Pirates of Penzance (so good I peed my pants…IYKYK), there’s this kind of jaunty sing-song toe tap the audience are in sync with.

IDK, maybe it’s something to do with the culture background of primary school hymns at assembly. This cringe enforced mass coming together through song?

Pantomime is just patronising! “Look behind you!” - ODFOD

I generally hate poetry, tends to be super cringy and can be pretentious and used by literary types to try and prove their intellectual superiority.
I appreciate each to their own though…

Thank you @MrsBenevolent haven't seen this before but it is lovely.

For anyone that may be interested; by Adrian Mitchell

They tuck you up, your mum and dad,
They read you Peter Rabbit, too.
They give you all the treats they had
And add some extra, just for you.

They were tucked up when they were small,
(Pink perfume, blue tobacco-smoke),
By those whose kiss healed any fall,
Whose laughter doubled any joke.

Man hands on happiness to man,
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
So love your parents all you can
And have some cheerful kids yourself.

🌻

Some poetry is awful but it’s all subjective isn’t it. I was given a book of Spike Milligans Funny Verse for Kids when I was 9, loved it.

Down the streams the swans all glide
Its quite the cheapest way to ride
Their legs get wet, their tummies wetter
I think after all the bus is better

Spike Milligan

One of my favourite short more grown up poems

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

W.B Yeats

My English A level teacher read that out to us and he had the most beautiful speaking voice I have ever heard.

Sounds like he was childfree rather than his life being lesser by not having a kid.
Not 'died childless' but 'enjoyed the bliss of a childfree life' 😊

I’m not interested in other people’s poems but I love reading Blake.