This little piggy went to market,
this little piggy stayed at home,
this little piggy had roast beef,
this little piggy had none,
and this little piggy went….
Onto better things, one hopes. The pub next door to my grandparents’ home in Five-Ash-Down
was called The Pig and Butcher. The sign showed a burly (beefy or porky?) butcher in his apron looking down at a pig in a top-hat and suit (if I remember correctly). Behind his back the butcher held a large cleaver. It was an image that quite moved me as a child. The nursery rhyme serves as a nice introduction to today’s topic – as the title suggests, I will be be looking at the poetry of alcohol. This is a shorter and lighter post than previously, I think we all need a break! The beers shown in the title image are from the Potbelly Brewery in Kettering, mentioned in an earlier post.
I was going to begin the post by wryly noting that there are no words that rhyme with alcohol. A quick internet search proved me wrong, but I am not sure I want to use most of those words. By nature I’m more of a free verse poet, all this rhyming stuff is quite enough. But I will give it a go…
I had a bit of alcohol
and got into a brawl,
we were eyeball to eyeball,
me and a bloody narwhal.
It might have been better to choose a specific drink rather than using the generic term, but I will spare you further torment. I looked through my poetry collection and found only two poems that mentioned drinking. As an aside, I was struck by how bleak most of my poetry is. If you feel brave enough, the two poems are Birthday Beach Party and Mornings.
Many famous writers were heavy users of alcohol, including Tennessee Williams, Edgar Allan Poe, Dylan Thomas, Truman Capote and F. Scott Fitzgerald. There is laboratory evidence to show that alcohol can enhance creativity, but the serious problems arising from prolonged heavy alcohol use cut short the careers and/or lives of some of the greats. The history of humankind has throughout it a thick thread of seeking escape through the use of psychoactive substances, so it is no surprise that the quest and the experience provide a rich source of material for artistic expression – poetry, literature, music and art. An article in The Irish Times explores the relationship between alcohol and writing. The article mentions the famous comedic writer Flann O’Brien (The Third Policeman, At Swim-Two-Birds) and his love of Barley Wine. I have had more than my fair share of this particular beverage. This came to me unbidden…
Flann O’Brien
drank Barley Wine
Sometimes I scare myself. I have also been known to torment people with my poetry in certain drinking establishments. I enjoyed some lovely Poems and Pints nights in Hull (organised by the previously mentioned Dr Geoff Lowe). Even before my undergraduate days, I was performing poetry with my erstwhile friend Iain Faulkner at the Croydon Wine Bar. In Kettering I have done a couple of open mic sessions in The Three Cocks (now closed, but not because of me!) and The Cordwainer.
I think that is all for now. Last orders have been called. Let’s drain our glasses and bid farewell. Until tomorrow, keep safe and well.
Alcohol Trivia Quiz
Yesterday’s answers:
1. The Queen Vic(toria). (Sorry, very UK-centric)
2. Japan,
3. Tequila.
Today’s questions:
1. Name of the pub in Coronation Street? (UK-centric again)
2. Who described himself as “a drinker with a writing problem?
3. Why are beer and wine bottles green or brown?
Understand Yourself Better 