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Petersmyth - you don't understand. McGonnagal is crap - but this is wonderful, gloriously bad excrement of the highest order.
It is really hard to write stuff this bad - many have tried, but only McGonnagal could rise to such depths of talentlessness. |
drewish |
12.12.2004
12:30 |
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A good summary of the man's life, style and works - but not entirely accurate. He DID marry, and had six children with Jean, his long-suffering wife.
If you're interested, you can read more of his poems and find out more about him at http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk - they'll even email you a McGonagall "poetic gem" every day! |
chuntuk |
15.01.2004
20:42 |
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A well researched opinion on what is genuinely my favourite poet. |
dobieg |
22.04.2003
23:47 |
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What about meeeee don't I count! My dad's fave McGonagall poem goes like this (I didn't make it up, it's real): Could you go a pie?/ Aye, said I, never thinking/ At your own expense, said he/ and I was that embarrassed/ I put my hat right on and walked out of the pub. Good huh! Ah well, at least we're a brave race even if our poetry is shite ;) Cheers, Kaz |
ShoppingGirl |
10.04.2003
18:43 |
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I'm very happy that a friend in London introduced me to this literary genius, my knowledge of English lit wouldn't be complete without McG! |
MALU |
08.04.2003
21:10 |
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Hee hee - really enjoyed your op! |
Ophelia |
08.04.2003
15:07 |
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good op:) |
cgibson |
07.04.2003
16:03 |
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After reading your excellent op I shall give him a try - cheers |
Merv |
06.04.2003
19:57 |
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Hi Poppy I found this heavy going. It's more a life history of an insignificant crap poet using other peeps words and sayings to define his inability. Why don't you come out with it and say why you think he's crap. That's what the sites here for. LOL, ...........Peter |
petersmyth1 |
05.04.2003
02:22 |
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I sat and thought after reading this piece Poppy. You have presented a very well researched factual statement interspersed with well chosen quotations in an interesting and entertaining style yet it isn?t an opinion and opinions should be the lifeblood of such sites as this. You say how people felt about McG, you tell of his lack of ability but all the while this is done by way of second hand opinion rather than your own views. For all the style and ability you bring to this piece it lacks that necessary element of personal opinion that for me is an essential requirement on a site such as this. David
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TrueSatan |
05.04.2003
02:01 |
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So, there's hope for me yet, then!! Lorraine x. |
lorrmid |
04.04.2003
21:31 |
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I'm sure I read somewhere that he is 'officially' the worst poet in the world. if he had written his poetry with the deliberate intention of being humorous, he would have probably been declared a genius! Great stuff, and thanks for the mention. |
proxam |
04.04.2003
18:49 |
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Ewwww, Poppy I think we vary somewhat on this one - I can't laugh out loud with all that rabbit "glee" and the like, I just find my toes curling upward! Kirsty |
Kirsty1 |
04.04.2003
18:29 |
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I'm only jealous that you got to write an op on the great W McG before I did. But you've left me room to mention the Tay Bridge disaster, and "over the wire the electric message came, he is no worse, he is not better, he is much the same." The King of Bathos! |
torr |
04.04.2003
17:45 |
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Thanks for the dedication. I am honoured. Carol :) |
carolscotland |
04.04.2003
17:26 |
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Great encyclopaedic history of one poor poet but not much by way of opinion. |
CareBear |
04.04.2003
14:39 |
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I am, of course, mortally offended that you have not included me in your canon of Scots Ciaoists. I am also saddened by your failure to recognise the genius of McGonagall's fine work 'The Water of Leith' (Where, you will recall, the pretty young girls go to brush their teeth) and his ode (Can't remember which one) which included in it's versification the immortal lines 'On yonder hill there stands a coo, if it's not there it's gone the noo.' I recall a brilliantly executed dramatisation of McGonagall's life on BBC many years ago which had my family completely enthralled...we are all HUGE fans of the wandering buffoon! I'm not really offended...I lied! |
stevethesleeve |
04.04.2003
13:15 |
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Ha, once again you show me fit a heathen I am, havnae heard o the loon, but hiv no. Will gaen tae the library and get a book oot. cheers fur the mention though quinie. |
borntoloaf |
04.04.2003
11:24 |
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Wrongly placed; this sort of writing should qualify as a professional essay and be on some site like h2g2, or something. Nonetheless, all that and nae mention of The Tay Bridge Disaster (or indeed the other dozen "poems" he did on the Tay valley bridges, disasters or otherwise). My fave - where he rhymes Edinburgh with sorrow - so that's where American mispronunciation comes from?! |
theediscerning |
04.04.2003
11:18 |
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Well you already know my appreciation of McGonnagall, but I thought you may care for this tale from my father's youth concerning expressing disapproval by throwing peas. Around that time the Italian immigration to Scotland saw most of the cafes and chip shops run by Italian families. It was here that the youth of the day would gather to flirt and pose in the evenings. One particular owner (we'll call him Giao) was fluent in his own strange hybrid of Italian and Scots and the youngsters used to love his strange turns of phrase. He was a very easy going friendly guy, but he had very definite ideas on the entertainment that was good for Scots youngsters. He considered Harry Lauder the epitome of culture, and used to play his records on an old wind up "gramataphone". One night the youngsters had had enough of Harry and when Giao was in the back shop a little competition developed to see who could aim their mushy peas most accurately down the horn of the gramophone. Things naturally got a bit out of hand and eventually whole handfuls of peas were flying through the air. There was a sickening squeal which brought Giao charging, red-faced from the back shop to deliver the following, which has become part of Hamilton folklore: "Hey! Hey! Who scoota da peas doon a gramataphone an choke-a da Harry Lauder?!!" |
thecatsmother |
04.04.2003
10:27 |
