Dr. Seuss, or: Eminem

Posted on by ben Alexander

The truth finally comes out

I shall now type some lines on a lark (I'm silly);
When I rhyme, my kid begs- Please stop it! No really!

She insists ev'ry day that I cease the abuse;
That my words just annoy; that I'm no Dr. Seuss.

And she's right, I admit, 'bout my quips and puns weak;
Endless reasons to cringe when I verse tongue-in-cheek.

Perhaps I should refrain when she's perched on my lap;
Cuz to tell you the truth, I'm much better at rap!

d’Verse prompt:

Hopscotch with Anapestic tetrameter

Today, at d’Verse we were prompted to write poems with tetrameter — and anapests.

Specifically, we were instructed to hopscotch like children in spring, doing anapests, which means two unstressed syllables, followed by one stressed. da-da-DAM. Anapestic tetrameter means four stressed syllables on each line (so each line has twelve syllables). It’s a form mastered by Dr. Seuss, which my daughter and I are very familiar with.

And, apparently, Eminem also makes use of anapestic tetrameter:

P.S.

I suck at rap.

100 thoughts on “Dr. Seuss, or: Eminem”

  2. Quite clever indeed. I rarely have the strength or wit to follow the rigor of structured poetry, but you have created something remarkably fun within the constraints of a format. Delightfully read.

      1. I love some of them actually but it has to be good like you say. ooooh you’re making me think my son made one on the environment in 8th grade and it was sooooo good. I’ll have to see if we have a copy and post it. Thanks!

        Thanks David and sooooo much love right back at you!
        💖

    1. I have an appreciation for rap, but I don’t listen to much of it nowadays…but, to be honest, I haven’t been listening to much music at all recently, Mary.

      Thank you 🙂
      David

  10. I love your poem David, The personal aspect really makes it…
    She insists ev’ry day that I cease the abuse;
    That my words just annoy; that I’m no Dr. Seuss.

    ha. ha not to many of us are Dr. Seuss!!

  11. I can hear the percussion. It’s so fun. Now all you need is some Eminem moves to impress your daughter 🙂

  12. Nice work with Anapestic tetrameter. Your poem made me laugh. I heard the same feedback from youngins in my life who have also laughed at my attempt to rap.

  13. I think you do a right good job when you “verse tongue-in-cheek”! And you’re daughter sounds like she’s having the time of her life listening to your play on words. Enjoyed this, David. 🙂

    1. Well, she’s not yet familiar with rap, Nandika… it would take a bit of explanation.

      And I’m not sure that I want her getting into rap at the age six, if you know what I mean 😉

      ❤
      David

  20. This scenario is so familiar. My daughter still tells me to stop, even in her forties! She also gets annoyed when I have a song for everything. I really enjoyed this one, David.

  27. Your daughter sounds like she is a great kid. Don’t worry. Kids are always embarrassed by their parents until they reach an age when they aren’t.

    2. yes, I was thinking that and that maybe David and his daughter will have outgrown it when it gets serious in other cases, round puberty? 🙂

    1. You know, TPS, one of younger brother’s hobbies is creating beats for raps – and he’s been doing it for some time now so he’s quite good. He thinks that if he sticks with it for a few more years, he may be able to do something with it professionally.

      ❤
      David

        1. currently, he’s only doing it recreationally, but he spends a LOT of time on it. It’s a true passion of his, and he REALLY loves rap and knows a lot about it.

        3. That’s very sweet of you, TPS. My brother and I have a very good relationship, but we’re separated by an ocean and are nearly twenty years apart in age… and our personalities and interests are also pretty different… but we have a very small nuclear family and no other siblings – so I think we’re both very attached to one another in part because of that.

        4. Sometimes I think it is good when the people we are close to are not too similar to us, then they compliment and balance the dynamic. It must be lovely to have close family. I have to constantly apologize for who I am. Yesterday I got lectured on “the real 12 tribes” and vaguely abused. I wouldn’t mind, but I am thoroughly exiled. Oh well! Onwards!

  30. Loved it! I dare say it is your job and mission to make puns and tell dad jokes. If your daughter never is embarrassed by what you say then you aren’t doing it right!! hehehe!

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