tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post4818410410522135860..comments2024-03-28T16:11:36.465+00:00Comments on Separated by a Common Language: write a poem, win a book!lynneguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-61269126236951050862016-10-14T12:08:58.849+01:002016-10-14T12:08:58.849+01:00Yay! (Now I know how Mcdonalds employees feel when...Yay! (Now I know how Mcdonalds employees feel when they get a star).Emzi Zimiziyunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-24321678411517267272016-10-13T17:22:43.313+01:002016-10-13T17:22:43.313+01:00Yes, of course: *badge*Yes, of course: *badge*lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-38517929506632936962016-10-13T14:55:49.571+01:002016-10-13T14:55:49.571+01:00While I really do not like to cadge,
(And it's...While I really do not like to cadge,<br />(And it's difficult here to imag-<br />Ine that you'll go so far)<br />But for <a href="https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2016/08/write-poem-win-book.html?showComment=1472730934488&m=1#c2327799105621371832" rel="nofollow"><i>je ne sais quoi</i></a>,<br />Lynne, can I please have a badge?Emzi Zimiziyunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-78090769578423457122016-10-13T14:22:02.461+01:002016-10-13T14:22:02.461+01:00Re-reading these later, and want to give you a bad...Re-reading these later, and want to give you a badge for this, Mike. *badge* :)lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-63056633325043122752016-09-10T11:27:17.686+01:002016-09-10T11:27:17.686+01:00I thought, "I'm ahead of the curve
In lea...I thought, "I'm ahead of the curve<br />In learning to utter 'love', 'lurve'" --<br />But on aiming the word<br />At a fanciable bird<br />I got slapped in the face and called "perv"Emzi Zimiziyunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-30835582800220267692016-09-09T23:29:30.539+01:002016-09-09T23:29:30.539+01:00What happens when our languages collide?
Well, one...What happens when our languages collide?<br />Well, one evening, I was wandering through Penn Station<br />when some headphone-wearing, Starbucks-swilling lorry<br />of a man rolled up and barged into my side.<br />All brimming with Britannic indignation,<br />I stared him in the eye and snarled, "I'm sorry"- <br />but he chirruped, "That's OK",<br />and went blithely on his way.Denisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-41138669190572839622016-09-09T13:45:08.123+01:002016-09-09T13:45:08.123+01:00I am stunned into silence by M J Simpson's Li...I am stunned into silence by M J Simpson's Limerick, and the disturbing image that it conjures up! <br />Simon X is a worthy runner-up.<br />Isn't it interesting that they are both a bit risqué?Biochemistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-88795318091106663922016-09-07T13:15:44.458+01:002016-09-07T13:15:44.458+01:00Bristols and Cobblers are rude,
Raspberry and Hamp...Bristols and Cobblers are rude,<br />Raspberry and Hampton are crude.<br />But they’re part of the slang which<br />Enriches our language,<br />And others are even more lewd.SimonXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-3748796235500085072016-09-06T12:12:39.474+01:002016-09-06T12:12:39.474+01:00I too am a fan of MJ Simpson's entry.I too am a fan of MJ Simpson's entry.Smylershttps://twitter.com/Smylers2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-76934298310250008232016-09-05T23:19:56.791+01:002016-09-05T23:19:56.791+01:00There once was a language called English,
Its diff...There once was a language called English,<br />Its differences many found squeamish,<br />The Americans changed it slightly,<br />All the British blamed them (politely),<br />And they never got along again.<br /><br />The stuck-up British were so confused,<br />"Vocab! Accents? We're all quite bemused."<br />Then, they learnt each other's dialect,<br />And saw just how they would intersect,<br />They finally turned all happy and zen.<br /><br /><br />~ Katya <br />@_secretchord_Katkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452730645818169886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-13923380998211202382016-09-05T10:47:20.712+01:002016-09-05T10:47:20.712+01:00Once said a Brit,
'You silly old twit,
You spe...Once said a Brit,<br />'You silly old twit,<br />You spelled 'humour' all wrong!'<br />The Yank said, 'Who, me?<br />But I spell in AmE.'<br />And that's the end of this song.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14152244821667941578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-24582490494221961222016-09-05T10:18:04.319+01:002016-09-05T10:18:04.319+01:00I like Mrs Redboots' contribution, but would a...I like Mrs Redboots' contribution, but would award the prize to MJ Simpson (especially as I speak BrE and therefore got the image of the person wandering around in their underwear... I had to do a bit of a search of the archives to confirm my guess that the AmE "vest" is what I would call a waistcoat).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-68177178585414648032016-09-02T14:59:45.341+01:002016-09-02T14:59:45.341+01:00Perplexed in London by a trail of "Thanks&quo...Perplexed in London by a trail of "Thanks"<br />My cultural signifiers fill in the blanks.Rachel Ganzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512329333010333925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-62172864497721364862016-09-01T13:22:18.944+01:002016-09-01T13:22:18.944+01:00In suspenders and pants and a vest,
Looking nerdy ...In suspenders and pants and a vest,<br />Looking nerdy - but smart - I impressed.<br />In the States that was fine<br />But a Brit friend of mine<br />Thought me kinky and quite underdressed.MJ Simpsonhttp://mjsimpson-films.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-23277991056213718322016-09-01T12:55:34.488+01:002016-09-01T12:55:34.488+01:00Lingua Franca
Our cousins from over the pond,
Lin...Lingua Franca<br /><br />Our cousins from over the pond,<br />Linguistically sharing a bond,<br />Help make our own lingo<br />(Near as dammit, by Jingo!)<br />Be common amongst <i>tout le monde</i>.Emzi Zimiziyunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-25767325636662505792016-08-31T15:06:10.874+01:002016-08-31T15:06:10.874+01:00Christopher, I like that.
I couldn't come up...Christopher, I like that. <br /><br />I couldn't come up with something that qualifies as a poem, but I wrote some doggerel (I have a T-shirt that reads, "Bad poetry—Oh noetry"). Folks, this is a joke, so please don't post replies telling me that the UK doesn't have a president. I won't listen anyway. ;-)<br /><br />The English sound sophisticated<br />Flattered when they're imitated<br />So I call them bloody wankers fond of buggery<br />Like us they have a government<br />(except their queen and president)<br />So Englishmen are honorary Yanks<br />(signed) An American<br /><br />Our language is contaminated<br />By those Yankee addle-pated<br />Blighters who can't even brew a decent pot of tea<br />They think they own their continent<br />Their movies deserve banishment<br />Allow their culture on our shores? No thanks!<br />(signed) A loyal subjectSteve Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970801099772755392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-54774175829160741932016-08-30T23:30:42.837+01:002016-08-30T23:30:42.837+01:00She fumbled inside her fanny pack:
A bum bag, whil...<br />She fumbled inside her fanny pack:<br />A bum bag, while looking for a snack.<br />She offered me candy: quite a treat.<br />I reciprocated with a sweet.<br />'I’m Randy’, she said: voice, loud and slow.<br />‘George’, I replied: embarrassed, ‘Hello’.<br />The cabin staff brought round a trolley:<br />A cart, from which she chose a lolly,<br />‘Gimme a popsicle and a coke’<br />The steward, an unassuming bloke,<br />‘Is it to drink now or take-away’?<br />She stood there, bemused: what could I say?<br />So, was she Randy? I’ll never know<br />As she and her drink were both ‘to-go’.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Christopher Fairsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-89061996462649498122016-08-29T21:29:49.968+01:002016-08-29T21:29:49.968+01:00There was steak-and-kidney pudding; there were cru...There was steak-and-kidney pudding; there were crumpets served at tea,<br />With scones and jam and clotted cream, a real feast for me.<br />But tea came hot, and served with milk, and often very strong.<br />And they’ve put corn on the pizza, and I think that that’s just wrong!<br /><br />We had biscuits, sausage gravy, and our steak was chicken-fried;<br />And I even tried fried catfish, with a muffin on the side.<br />But jelly with the salads? Cornbread sweeter than a cake?<br />Tea served cold and with no milk in, there’s surely some mistake!<br /><br />We eat courgette or zucchini, and our corn is sweet or not,<br />Our babies sleep in bassinets, or maybe in a cot.<br />However we may differ, though, there’s one thing stays the same:<br />Our love of words and languages – and what is in a name!Mrs Redboots (Annabel Smyth)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11270027663691257254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-4702078363126313022016-08-29T17:46:29.282+01:002016-08-29T17:46:29.282+01:00I once knew a girl who said colour
is not the same...I once knew a girl who said colour<br />is not the same thing as color<br />What a colourful girl in a colorful world <br />I'm sure glad it's not spelled cull-her!<br /><br />-@TomorrowsPoetry(Elliot Goldman)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-46543304298027733462016-08-29T16:12:24.879+01:002016-08-29T16:12:24.879+01:00Torch by Moira Dunphy
When I was young I loved to...Torch by Moira Dunphy<br /><br />When I was young I loved to dive<br />Into the world of the Famous Five<br />“Torch”, I’d whisper<br />“Lift”, I’d repeat,<br />Wanting bonnets to wear<br />And crisps to eat.<br /><br />My heart would pound!<br />They were far too brave!<br />Were they crazy going into that gloomy cave?!<br /><br />And even though in the illustration<br />A flashlight was used for illumination,<br />In my mind I saw crackling flames that scorch<br />Each time I read that lovely word “Torch”.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-60865185663684196842016-08-29T11:01:12.100+01:002016-08-29T11:01:12.100+01:00Thanks for breaking the ice, Mike!
Thanks for breaking the ice, Mike!<br />lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-32795872368168030142016-08-29T09:46:09.512+01:002016-08-29T09:46:09.512+01:00A talented young chef called Jeannie,
Just loves t...A talented young chef called Jeannie,<br />Just loves to cook fettuccine,<br />But she often forgets<br />To buy the courgettes,<br />So she replaces them with some zucchini.<br /><br />(Mike Hatton)Mike Hattonnoreply@blogger.com