Ditch the ads, upload images and much more - upgrade today from 5.95/month!
Read • Contests • Groups • Learn • Forums • Store • Help
 

A Birthday Toast To My Shakesperean Mentor (Acrostic)

Missing image
~by Gregg Rowe~

Here's a birthday toast to my New Zealand mentor:
Utterly always willing to lend a hand when
Gregg attempts to write in iambic pentameter --
Hugh arrives -- taps my knuckles with his instructor's pen.

When counting syllables, you must remember:
Your stressed and unstressed counts,
Least you should make a gregarious
Error and throw the beat off, oh alas --
Shakespeare appears with a scotch glass!

Author notes

My Shakesperean Mentor:  On your 73rd year on this planet, I am sending you my biggest Winnie -the-Pooh bear hug and special wishes that your day is filled with every wish that you ever made.  I'll have a toast at the university bar with my friends tonight after class, while you are partying here.  I thank you for every second of time you spent reading and showing me my faults in iambic pentameter while I was learning the Sonnets and wish you the Happiest Birthday that you deserve. Gregg
Written January 12th, 2005

In a list

What did you think

    I plan to revise this poem: please leave constructive criticism!
    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
    • Line numbers  • Invite them to read
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?)

Comments

1 - 23 of 23

  • January 13, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Love the last two lines in this. This is a wonderful poem for him Gregg.

    ~~Jessica


  • Diamond
    January 13, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    Lovely Sonnet

    Excellent write. It's not every day a fellow lives to celebrate his 73rd birthday. Happy Birthday to the birthday boy and best wishes. Avril


  • enlightenedatheist
    January 13, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    sweet and loving

    this is such a touching little way to show someone that u care for them adn that they have enspired you. wonerful job!


  • hugh wyles silver member
    January 13, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Dear Gregg,
    ~~~
    Now I've discovered that Shakespeare
    did not touch Scotch but only beer.
    He'd not however shun a tipple
    from a healthy barmaid's nipple.
    This predilection, though, I share
    with boobs. So does that make me queer?
    I only hope on my birthday
    a pair of tits will come my way.
    ~~~
    Regards, Hugh.


  • poetryality silver member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    I had to laugh when I read this Gregg. Hahahahaha Hugh trys so hard to help me with th imabic pentameter and no matter how many times he tells me of the stress on words, I just don't get it! I think I truly am tone deaf, I just can't hear it, I can't. LOL I think he only uses the instructor's pen tapping thingy on the guys. LOL This is a sheer delight.

    I hope you are doing well in school, and life is treating you with a kind and gentle hand. I know Hugh got a good chuckle out of this.

    Many Blessings,
    Renee

  • listen
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    very nice humorous rhyme. good luck in the contest.


  • SusanL
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Gregg -
    I am so glad you were able to make the party after all! I was so worried the invite had got lost in the mail!
    I sometimes still fumble my meter and Hugh is right there to pick up the ball.
    You have penned a lovely tribute to our dear friend.
    Bravo!
    Susan


  • lordoftherings gold member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Raeven Reede: I tried to load up the pic of Hugh with his scotch glass in hand but it doesn't work, to see it either go to the contest page or Hugh Wyles' page to see the photo...it is just so Hughie! Gregg


  • theprodigalsister
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    What a sweet way to remember someone!! I bet he'll find it flattering. I loved the last line, something about it struck me funny. Perhaps the oddness of the visual I had...


  • TheStarsFaintForYou
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    fair

    not bad...I love Shakespeare and I know where you're coming from
    Edited on Jan 12, 2:08 p.m. because ''.

  • lordoftherings gold member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Rous: Thanks you so much, I will correct the first error, but wish to leave the second as it stands: It is a play on my name and the excitment I have after I finish penning my sonnet and want to show the world, only to be put in my place by someone more experienced showing my errs in the writing. Gregg
    Edited on Jan 12, 2:05 p.m. because ''.


  • Elrenia
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Very nice. I did notice a couple of errors, though. "crack his knuckles" should be "cracks his knuckles". And I am not sure gregarious it the correct word here. It means upbeat and optomistic which sounds like the opposite of what you are trying to say. However, a good read, otherwise. Thank you for sharing.

  • Zivlok
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Hey! I just noticed that it really is an acrostic, it spells Hugh Wyles! I'm so smart!

  • hugh wyles silver member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Dear Gregg,
    Thanks buddy! It is a source of great satisfaction to see that you are just about getting your meter and stresses right! You words I can never fault.
    Love and hugs to you too. Hugh.
    Edited on Jan 12, 1:52 p.m. because ''.


  • angelica silver member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Gregg my friend, this is a wonderful Birthday wish for our Hugh, he is overwhelmed at all of the greetings he woke up to.
    Thank you Gregg~Love~Joan
    Edited on Jan 12, 1:52 p.m. because ''.


  • Night Terrors
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    You’re a very good writer. I like the details you put into this. You are doing very well I think you are going to go far with your kind of talent. Poets aren’t made they are born and you were defiantly given the right stuff to make it. If you keep this up you’ll be on your way to great things indeed. I really love this poem and I hope I get to read more of your work. It is amazing what a little time and effort can do. If you use all of those you get great poetry. Keep writing Mariza you are very good. You should be proud


  • thricelightning
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Amazing! I loved it !


  • starsandwishes
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    i am an english student myself and totally see where you're coming from!


  • masterblaster gold member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Be careful your mentor will tear his hair out, yes it was fun and not easy to do,well done would have been nice to see more shades of the bard,you seem to have had fun doing this piece, keep penning the world could use another bard if that is possible.

  • ale82006
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    that was a fun read and very funny too! i wish i could write more traditional poetry, but i've never been taught how and i dont know how to teach myself. i need to expand my writing. you're doing a good job that was really good.


  • Shimmerysoup
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    I love this, I completely sympathise with the problems with iambic pentameter, I'm an english student myself and when trying to analyse and perform plays of Shakespeare it tends to be a little bit of a pain in the neck! Live on Prose and Blank Verse! lol.
    Excellent tribute, I'm sure it's a credit to them
    Love,
    Shimmerysoup
    XxX


  • ficklefeather
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Oh, Cheers!
    And a fun read that was!
    Pen on


  • Mari Goes gold member
    January 12, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Oh Gregg, this is a very nice tribute! And the corrections don't happen only with you, how many times I got a slap on my head from him because of my terrible way to use punctuation
    Thank you so much for your participation in this party!
    Kisses and love,
    Mari

1 - 23 of 23