What would we think of an alphabet poem cycle with an eco-conservationist theme? Who'd buy that for a dollar?

Okay, okay, so there are lots of these out there, but they tend not to be sophisticated or interesting poetically: sloppy, cliche', trite even. I want to write one that sings for its supper.

Poem the first (Adam, even you can deduce the structural conceit at work here; Earth Mother, if he asks you, that's cheating):



Albert Ross the Albatross

Auld Albert Ross, the albatross,
Adores the wide, blue sea:
Al loves its winds, its waves, its fins
And every kind of food that swims
But not the plastics, bottles, tins
Collecting annually therein
Because we treat it like a bin
And make life difficult for him,
Al’s friends, Al’s food (the kind with fins)
Across the wide, blue sea.
Auld albatross, our Albert Ross.


Of course, the next poem will have to follow suit: BBBBCDCBBBB, with the reversal in the last line (Y and Z would either have to dip back into A and B respectively, or I could use numbers instead). Or I could come up with a new poetic form for each letter. Or better yet, find a form for each that starts with that letter: ode for O, rubaiyat for R, sonnet for s, epithalamion or epigram for E, palindrome for P: you get the idea: world's first multi-tasking poetry primer for kids: an introduction to poetic forms, eco-conservatist political messages, and an introduction to alphabetical literacy. Whizbang.


Photocred: Dr. Mike Double

Potential problem: Ralph McTell's already done the "Albert Ross" thing. Not surprised: it's a no-brainer. But my poem is better than his. Trust me.