holmes_minor | The Poetry Page: On The Bummel with Mrs. Hudson

scfrankles posting in

This month we are making another trip to that marvellous music hall YouTube! And this time we are going to see an exhibition of some gorgeous dolls’ houses.

But before we go any further…

There have been some problems in the past—members of our little band getting mislaid after these jaunts. So I am laying down a few rules right at the beginning.

Firstly, I will be counting everyone before we get on the train, and will recount everyone before we leave YouTube’s premises. Secondly, there will be no trips to the bar. And thirdly, regarding Mrs. Small-Hobbit and Mrs. Frankles—I hesitate to use the term ‘troublemakers’... But I shall expect you both to remain within my sight at all times and to hold hands during all travel.

Thank you.

Now on to the the details of the houses we will be looking at:

The Elkin House

Made somewhere between 1800-1830

The Drew House

A home of the 1860s.

Mrs Bryant's Pleasure

It was made for a lady called Mrs Bryant in the early 1860s, who lived in a house in Surbiton called Oakenshaw.

Betty Pinney’s House

The house itself was made in 1870 but the furnishings are from later. The house is a portrait of life in a wealthy household from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

Devonshire Villas

It is a replica of a real house that existed in Kilburn, North London, which was later destroyed. It was made in 1900 for Mr Samuel Loebl, who lived in the house at the time, as a present for his daughter, Cecy.

Dolls house, England, 1890-1910

This type of house was widely commercially available through mail order catalogues as well as department stores and toy shops in the early years of the 20th century.

And finally, this lovely one representing a dressmaker’s establishment, and dating from 2014!

Wait a moment… Over a hundred years from now? Surely that date cannot be right? (This is the last time I ask Doctor Watson to help me with my notes…) Still, I greatly recommend it despite its date.

Before we leave for the station, I will offer you this quotation from Dr. Watson’s story ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’ as additional inspiration for your poems:

It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window could be reached from the top of the coach-house.

Here are the usual suggestions for poetry forms:

221B verselet, abecedarian poetry, acrostic poetry, alexandrine, ballad, barzelletta, beeswing, blackout poetry, blitz poem, blues stanza, bref double, Burns stanza, call and response, chastushka, cherita, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, clogyrnach, colour poems, compound word verse, concrete poetry, Cornish verse, curtal sonnet, débat, décima, descort, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, echo verse, ekphrasis, elegiac couplet, elegiac stanza, elfje, englyn, enuig, epigram, epistle, epitaph, epulaeryu, Etheree, fable, Fib, florette, found poetry, free verse, ghazal, haiku, hay(na)ku, In Memoriam stanza, Italian sonnet, jueju, kennings poem, lanturne, lies, limerick, line messaging, list poem, lyric poetry, mathnawī, micropoetry, mini-monoverse, musette, nonsense verse, palindrome poetry, pantoum, Parallelismus Membrorum, poem cycle, puente, quatern, quintilla, renga, rhyming alliterisen, riddle, rimas dissolutas, rime couée, rispetto, Schüttelreim, sedoka, septet, sestina, shadorma, sonnet, stream of consciousness, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triangular triplet, tricube, trine, triolet, Tyburn, villanelle, xenolith

As always, all poems can be left as comments on my page. And now on to the railway station and so to YouTube!

(Mesdames Small-Hobbit and Frankles, in front of me, please and take each other’s hands. Yes, I really, really do mean it.)

And so away!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

smallhobbit

If you want to share my hip flask
All you have to do is ask
Since the bar is out of bounds
My hip flask can do the rounds

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Take me by the hand, you say
But not from any feeling
My head's commenced to reeling, you say
And it's tough to stand.

From:

smallhobbit

My problem you see
I’m starting to list to port
But my flask held gin

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

I really can't throw stones at you
residing as I'm want to do
in a glass (doll's) house with a view
for when a storm begins to brew--
provided flask is stout and true--
any ol' port will see me through
(to mix a metaphor or two)

Edited Date: 2018-08-21 02:10 am (UTC)

From:

smallhobbit

*doffs hat at verse*

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Thanks!

From:

scfrankles

Rooms
aflame and
now he’s playing
the wall shooting game.

It seems boys will
ever be boys, but
landladies’ houses
are really not toys.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Very clever with the shape!

From:

scfrankles

Thank you ^__^

From:

smallhobbit

Very inventive!

From:

scfrankles

Thank you ^___^

Perhaps not as inventive as you and Okapi have been though :P

From:

smallhobbit

Houses
Lovingly made
Faithful recreation
Everything in miniature
For dolls

Edited Date: 2018-08-23 08:46 pm (UTC)

From:

scfrankles

A miniature poetry form for miniature houses ^__^

It is a perfect choice of form and very sweetly done - the care and thought needed to pick words with exactly the right number of syllables perhaps a nod to the time and patience needed to build the houses...?

From:

smallhobbit

Thank you very much. Yes, for just 11 words there was a lot of time expended. That was bad enough - I'd never have the patience to build a dolls' house.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Very neat and neatly arranged!

From:

smallhobbit

Thank you very much.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

In the summer of '95
a Mouselet and A. Vole
did find they could no longer thrive
in 221B's hole

Repairs quite vast were underway
and everyone had fled.
They couldn't find a morsel stray,
nor crumb of day-old bread.

An agent of estates was called;
portmanteaus filled high;
a list of homes to let [un-dolled]
in paw, and then, good-bye.

Edited Date: 2018-09-03 03:59 pm (UTC)

From:

smallhobbit

Aw, what a lovely start :)

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Thanks! I'm afraid my plan for this will contradict something you put in your most recent Aemilia story but it will all be in good fun and I don't think you'll be upset.

From:

smallhobbit

So long as Mouselet and Aemelia are friends at the end I'm sure I shall be happy.

From:

scfrankles

This is just such a sweet way to use the dolls houses ^__^

My very favourite bits are:

a Mouselet and A. Vole

They couldn't find a morsel stray,/ nor crumb of day-old bread.

An agent of estates was called;

a list of homes to let [un-dolled]/ in paw...

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Thank you! This was my first thought when I saw the prompts.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

The first was perfect, just for two,
but just in case they missed
a trove, they saw another few
on their prospective list.

The next were awful grand affairs,
beyond their humble need.
‘And it’s odd, they haven’t stairs!’
the mouse and vole agreed.

‘But a parlour would be so nice…”
One sighed. One shook her head.
‘For games!’ ‘And sewing!’ ‘But the price!’
‘And everything in red!’

The last was just magnificent
They ooo-ed. They ah-ed. They laughed.
To garden roof by lift they went
and boggled at the staff!

The tour adjourned with cakes and tea.
The pair they went a-singing
‘A simple place for me and thee!
Let's back to the beginning!’

From:

smallhobbit

Aw, very sweet!

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Thank you!

From:

scfrankles

‘And it’s odd, they haven’t stairs!’ I hadn't thought about that before... ^^" Very good point ^___^

I'm particularly taken with:

They ooo-ed. They ah-ed. They laughed.
To garden roof by lift they went
and boggled at the staff! ^___^

And those last two lines ^__^

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Thank you! I thought it was strange about the stairs, but maybe not? The first one has stairs and the other one has a lift. But yeah it'd be difficult for Mouselet and Aemilia to crawl along the outside, I thought.

There are two more parts planned: The Conflict (with Musical Interlude) and The Resolution (where Inky makes an appearance). I will keep at it.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

The unpacking began at once
at brisk, efficient pace,
and by each bedside, from each trunk,
was set a well-framed face.

With places found for everything,
they sighed contentedly.
At top of stairs, their steps a-spring,
they met, agreed on tea.

But over shoulder, looking hard,
one asked, 'Who's that I spy?'
'The best Inspector of the Yard'
was the quick reply.

'Oh, my dear you're quite mistaken.'
A frown, a tut, a stare.
'The best I see as I 'waken,
that handsome portrait there.'

The ears went flat. The whiskers twitched.
Who was right? Who was wrong?
No way to tell just which was which,
save bursting into song.

Edited Date: 2018-09-07 04:38 pm (UTC)

From:

smallhobbit

I see now the contradiction - I'm sure there will be a suitable solution though :)

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Yes, it'll be a mild and short conflict.

From:

scfrankles

It's like fandom in miniature ^___^ Hope they manage to reach a compromise ^^"

I think my very favourite lines are:

and by each bedside, from each trunk,/ was set a well-framed face.

A frown, a tut, a stare.

The ears went flat. The whiskers twitched.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Shipping War! Yes, there'll be a song and then a resolution.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

MOUSELET: Anything yours can do mine can do better.
AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can do anything better than yours.
MOUSELET: No, he can’t.
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes, he can.
MOUSELET: No, he can’t
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes, he can. Yes, he can.

AEMELIA VOLE: Any crime yours can solve mine can solve quicker.
MOUSELET: Mine can solve any crime quicker than yours.
AEMELIA VOLE: No, he can’t.
MOUSELET: Yes, he can.
AEMELIA VOLE: No, he can’t
MOUSELET: Yes, he can. Yes, he can.

AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can catch a villain, twelve pence to the shillin’
MOUSELET: Mine can catch a robber like a pup can slobber
AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can find a pearl in a bust
MOUSELET: Smashed I trust?
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes
MOUSELET: (Phew!) What alotta dust!

MOUSELET: Any scheme yours can foil mine can foil swifter
AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can foil any scheme swifter than yours
MOUSELET: No, he can't
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes, he can
MOUSELET: No, he can't
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes, he can!

MOUSELET: Any case yours can crack mine can crack swifter
AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can crack any case swifter than yours
MOUSELET: A Nihilist in fancy glasses!
AEMELIA VOLE: A nasty builder burnt to ashes!
MOUSELET: A well-harpooned old sailor!
AEMELIA VOLE: A notorious blackmailer!
MOUSELET: That awful business with Sir Eustace!
AEMELIA VOLE: Those submarine plans stole most ruthless!
MOUSELET: Oh, that time he aided and abetted…
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes?
MOUSELET: Oh, never mind, forget it!

Loud cries I overheard. I spied,
through pane, the rodents’ tiff.
Distressed was I as I arrived,
in paws, my warm-house gift.

‘My dears!’ I cried when door was op’d.
‘Please cease your bitter song!
Ill will amongst friends can’t be coped.
And, too, you’re both quite wrong!

Twas Mister Holmes who found the gem.
He found the Nihilist, too,
unearthed Oldacre’s nasty phlegm,
Black Peter’s past come through.

There’s really quite no need to fight
discourage friendship dear.
For Mister Holmes is always right
Your Yarders nowhere near!’

Their ears went flat. Their whiskers twatched.
But said I nothing more.
For from my paws my cake they snatched
and promptly slammed the door!

But as I shuffled back a pace
I heard their voices clear.
‘Your ‘Spector’s got a handsome face!’
‘But so has yours, my dear.’

I left, all smiles, and mused at such
a perfect remedy.
Division calls for nothing much
but common enemy.

From:

smallhobbit

Brilliant ploy on Inky's part. And I'm glad they're friends again. I did enjoy the song though.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Inky's sneaky. Yes, happy ending for all--and there is cake!

From:

scfrankles

^________^

Oh, crikey ^____^ That's such a perfect finale ^___^ I could just see Mouselet and Aemelia doing a dance routine to go with the song ^___^ And it was such a perfect idea from Inky - I'm glad to see though that they kept the cake before slamming the door on him ^___^

My favourite bits:

AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can catch a villain, twelve pence to the shillin’
MOUSELET: Mine can catch a robber like a pup can slobber
AEMELIA VOLE: Mine can find a pearl in a bust
MOUSELET: Smashed I trust?
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes
MOUSELET: (Phew!) What alotta dust!

MOUSELET: A Nihilist in fancy glasses!
AEMELIA VOLE: A nasty builder burnt to ashes!
MOUSELET: A well-harpooned old sailor!
AEMELIA VOLE: A notorious blackmailer!
MOUSELET: That awful business with Sir Eustace!
AEMELIA VOLE: Those submarine plans stole most ruthless!
MOUSELET: Oh, that time he aided and abetted…
AEMELIA VOLE: Yes?
MOUSELET: Oh, never mind, forget it!

I left, all smiles, and mused at such
a perfect remedy.
Division calls for nothing much
but common enemy.

From:

stonepicnicking_okapi

Thanks! They were angry but not angry enough to pass up cake! Yes, I could see them dancing about on the landing between the two bedrooms and taunting each other. Inky was very clever and I think Mouselet and Aemilia enjoyed their summer sublet.