Wordplay with George Bilgere and John Donoghue

I can't help it. I've been stressed out lately. Partly, thanks to the political climate we are living in. And partly, and I know this is silly, but because I have a new book out, and I am a true introvert. Even social media exhausts me. So many wonderful things have happened around my book, including reviews and readings and interviews like this one with Women's Quarterly, and I am grateful. So grafeful. But I am also filled with dread. I think about the fact that I might even go to AWP next year! I know that's months away, but just the three letters, AWP, puts me on edge. 

When I feel anxious, I have a few antidotes. High on the list is listening to Wordplay with George Bilgere and John Donoghue, two brilliant Cleveland poets. Everyone should listen to it.  It's one of the most enjoyable podcasts out there. I could listen to these two men chatting and laughing and reading poetry forever. The poems they pick, the commentary, the insights . . . it's  uplifting, entertaining, inspiring.  It's better than a glass or two of Chardonnay. And you can enjoy it any time of day. 

On one of the recent podcasts, John Donoghue reads this gem by Paul Violi, which is even funnier when John reads it:

Counterman

By Paul Violi

 

What’ll it be?

 

Roast beef on rye, with tomato and mayo.

 

Whaddaya want on it?

 

A swipe of mayo.

Pepper but no salt.

 

You got it. Roast beef on rye.

You want lettuce on that?

 

No. Just tomato and mayo.

 

Tomato and mayo. You got it.

…Salt and pepper?

 

No salt, just a little pepper.

 

You got it. No salt.

You want tomato.

 

Yes. Tomato. No lettuce.

 

No lettuce. You got it.

…No salt, right?

 

Right. No salt.

 

You got it. Pickle?

 

No, no pickle. Just tomato and mayo.

And pepper.

 

Pepper.

 

Yes, a little pepper.

 

Right. A little pepper.

No pickle.

 

Right. No pickle.

 

You got it.

Next!

 

Roast beef on whole wheat, please,

With lettuce, mayonnaise and a center slice

Of beefsteak tomato.

The lettuce splayed, if you will,

In a Beaux Arts derivative of classical acanthus,

And the roast beef, thinly sliced, folded

In a multi-foil arrangement

That eschews Bragdonian pretensions

Or any idea of divine geometric projection

For that matter, but simply provides

A setting for the tomato

To form a medallion with a dab

Of mayonnaise as a fleuron.

And—as eclectic as this may sound—

If the mayonnaise can also be applied

Along the crust in a Vitruvian scroll

And as a festoon below the medallion,

That would be swell.

 

You mean like in the Cathedral St. Pierre in Geneva?

 

Yes, but the swag more like the one below the rosette

At the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.

 

You got it.

Next!

 

Comments

[Cindy Hochman]

Ha—I remember this poem and I too love wordplay, especially when done well (like this one).

And the "stress factor" resonates with me. With all the chaos going on in the world, and all that the world has gone through in the past few years, it's hard not to feel a high level of anxiety (yes, even when it comes to exciting things that are going on in our lives).

Thank you for sharing your feelings and this wonderful poem, Nin. And know that others (including me) are feeling a lot of the same feelings.

CONGRATS ON THE NEW BOOK—try to revel in it!

[Nin Andrews]

Thank you so much, Cindy!

[Grace Cavalieri]

I love these guys, and NIN, you capture the playfulness they speak to in playful YOU

[Nin Andrews]

Thanks Grace! I do think they bring such joy to the listener, and, like you, they show off what is so great in poets and poetry.