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Poetry Focus On: BECKY MAYHEW

Becky Mayhew, Young British Poet
Becky Mayhew lives in Surbiton, Surrey, and has just finished a Masters degree in Creative Writing and Publishing at Kingston University. She has had a book of short stories published by Treehouse Press, and writes humorous articles for local newspapers and websites. She is currently writing a novel inspired by human life and local pubs.


Elocution Lessons


Me Mam had her voice knocked out of her
When they made the move from Up North.
A grand little lass with broad ‘ohh’s’ and ‘aa’s’
Submerged in the South henceforth.

Her mouth spilled air from the fresh green earth
Of Lancashire’s faraway land.
Six year-old lips curling round words
That were seized by a teacher’s firm hand.

It didn’t take long for the North to come out
Like a grass stain lifting in’t wash.
She practised at home, her new southern voice,
Me Granddad said, ‘Eee, you sound posh.’

Soon there was nothing, no trace of the hills,
The cobbles, the spires, or the sea.         
Just good southern vowels, rounded and clipped
That seeped through the years down to me.


poem by Becky Mayhew; published online with permission of the author
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Comments

Poetry Pleases! said…
Dear Becky

There is not much I like better than good old-fashioned humorous poetry that rhymes and scans - a bit like my own, in fact!

Best wishes from Simon
Mon Jun 18, 12:05:00 pm 2012
B.R. said…
Todd,
Thanks for posting this! and the link to the interview. I had a similar experience to that related in the poem, though my movement was from south to north (from southern U.S. to northern U.S.) and my accent is still vaguely in play, and can be revved up at any time. Folks in grad school would literally fall out on the floor when I pronounced Othello like Ole Yeller.

Congratulations on your blog's longevity and richness. I just stumbled across it. Nicely done.

B.R.
Sat Jun 23, 09:11:00 am 2012
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