poetry 2017 / 055

prompt for the day: the Bop. The invention of poet Afaa Michael Weaver, the Bop is a kind of combination sonnet + song. Like a Shakespearan sonnet, it introduces, discusses, and then solves (or fails to solve) a problem. Like a song, it relies on refrains and repetition. In the basic Bop poem, a six-line stanza introduces the problem, and is followed by a one-line refrain. The next, eight-line stanza discusses and develops the problem, and is again followed by the one-line refrain. Then, another six-line stanza resolves or concludes the problem, and is again followed by the refrain. Here’s an example of a Bop poem written by Weaver, and here’s another by the poet Ravi Shankar.

The Meadows, Alvechurch, 1976

Nothing to do on a Saturday night

but hang in the village and drinking some beer

we're all underage and approaching our prime

But Mike's got a moustache that looks pretty tight.

Besides, the policemen are nothing to fear

when the station is empty and lacking in crime.

Back at the playing field passing the time.

The stoners are passing a mary-roll joint

while footballers set out bottles for posts

the girls are all dancing 'round handbags and such

crashing the ciggies and dishing the grime

eyeing the boys while they lip gloss annoint

amidst catcalls and muscle bound boys and their boasts.

And sitting alone at the edge of the clutch

a boy with a book and a vodka and lime.

Back at the playing field passing the time.

The stoners lie down with the midges and grass

Players buy food and a bottle of coke

The girls share opinions with mock pantomine

Distant church bells call the faithful to mass

girls swapping food for a snog and a joke.

The book boy gives blow jobs for barely a dime.

Back at the playing field passing the time.