The variety of poems spanned old favourites like Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, and recognised poets like Elizabeth Bishop and Byron. Shel Silverstein and Roald Dahl continue to figure annually. Unusually we had a scientist, Haldane, in their midst. It is obvious these authors get much relish out of writing humorous stuff that shows the world and themselves in a comical light.
It comes at the end of a year that in real life gave us few laughs, barring the gaucheries of Mr Trump. POTUS at one point suggested research into treatment of the novel coronavirus by injecting disinfectant into the body. As a result the group’s WhatsApp conversations within the reading group are filled with haikus, tetrameters, and story lines sending up POTUS in waves of laughter. We would have been entirely thankful for the comic relief he afforded – had he not also been responsible for countless Covid deaths among his followers by instructing them to flout the elementary means of protection mandated by keeping distance, wearing masks, and not gathering in crowds.
Covid-19 has given rise to poetry that matches its malevolence, like Scott Momaday’s In the Time of Plague:
We endure thoughts of demise
And measure the distance of death.
Death too wears a mask.
But consider, there may well be good
In our misfortune if we can find it. It is
Hidden in the darkness of our fear.
And measure the distance of death.
Death too wears a mask.
But consider, there may well be good
In our misfortune if we can find it. It is
Hidden in the darkness of our fear.
If limericks do not figure among the holiday offerings of KRG, this one by Anonymous tells why:
The limerick packs laughs anatomical
In space that is quite economical
But the good ones I’ve seen
So seldom are clean
And the clean ones are so seldom comical.
Devika made up her face with eyebrow pencil and lipstick of different colours; the effect resembled Tā moko, the permanent marking practised by the Māori people of New Zealand. KumKum showed up in a bright witch's costume with a wilting crown of croton leaves:
Joe was dressed as a colourful Bene Israel rabbi, or a Paris priest, who had decided to scandalise his flock:
Kavita showed up in a conical hat;
Priya appeared with numerous moles and a trishul. Arun is here in spectacular face paint:
And Thommo as a black-hat cyber hacker –
Geeta was in humanitarian garb as a nurse administering the Covid-19 vaccine:
Zakia smiles in a moustache, while Pamela makes her appearance as a witch in black with a long nose and claws:
and Geetha in a cape:
Arundhaty who won the costume prize is shown below in full-length modelling her dress:
The group are all gathered for the event:
Everyone agreed the next novel (Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf) for Jan 2021, though short, is a formidable book; ‘tough’ was the word used. It is slated for Jan 29 reading.
