East End Story (Glesga edition): Overture

A lively knees-up, with a lot of mishmash
Brash, trash, clash, gnash, splash, and a whole lotta flash!

Perhaps a bit sottish? It was very Scottish
Did anyone vet it? Non-Scots wouldn’t get it

Starting off with a trip by a warbling Barrow man
in tacky heather suit, atop tartan tourist van

Clichés galore, and whisky, what’s more
Tartans, bagpipes and golf—did someone cry ‘Fore!’?

Teacakes in foil, plus crooning by Boyle
Glasgow kiss redefined, prejudice left behind

Forth Bridge supported by the national drink
Not amber, but orange (just have a think)

Nessie and Dolly, those heavenly creatures
Just two of the wonders our bonnie land features

Duke of Wellington sporting his cone
Finally! Council this does condone

Athletes’ parade, with mascots in tweed
With each delegation did a wee dug precede
And last, but not least, the Scots in their tartan
Despite the carfuffle, they did look quite smart in
their kilts and their shawls (perhaps a bit loud?)
Yet what’s not to like, they do us all proud!

McGregor and comrades, the ones who persuade
to put children first, in sync we can aid
by texting a fiver, UNICEF can provide
vital help for all bairns Commonwealth wide

Big Yin offers tribute to the great Mandela
Freedom of the City did we give to that fella
Followed by South African singing with flair
Scots’ call for a society multiracial and fair

Prince Imran confused, the Queen not amused?
Baton freed by Hoy, to Her Majesty’s joy

Fireworks to follow, all around the Clyde
With nary a blowdown, preserving Glasgow’s pride

Reviews that came after included the following
Yet we’ve not the time for self-pity wallowing
‘kitsch’, ‘awful’, ‘energetic’, ‘colourful’ and ‘brilliant’
Just goes to show that the Scots are resilient

To borrow some lines from Karen‘s review
I couldn’t fit in all that I wanted to
Just ran out of time (and space), so skipped out a few
The people of Scotland–indeed, just like you!

Ab Fab event, eleven days to excite
Welcome to Glasgow, and have a good night!

from Glasgow via Aalborg, den 23. juli 2014

Cheesecake: a Shavuot lament

Photo by zingyyellow

To the tune of ’Cheesecake’ (Teo, 2014)
Must be sung and danced for maximal gratification

---

Yum, bubbeleh

Once you got a place to bake
You showed me cake
But I’m no Escoffier
You’re no Ju-li-a Child

So here’s my story
Starts in a blaze of glory
I hit a blissful state
When you made me my own cheesecake

But…

I don’t wanna be your taster when you bake
I’m not gonna eat your strudel, big mistake
I look over all the recipes you could make
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

I don’t wanna be your lab rat when you bake
I’m not gonna eat your babka, makes me ache
I look over all the sweets I could partake
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

Oy vey
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
Ay-yay ay-yay

Hey, I will stay close at hand
Just don’t demand
It wasn’t ever this way planned
My belly to expand

You’ll just start grumbling
When your crust’s crumbling
You want only a ‘yes’ man
I’ll never just agree

I don’t wanna be your subject when you bake
I’m not gonna eat your rugelach, big mistake
I look over all the recipes you could make
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

I don’t wanna be your guinea pig when you bake
I’m not gonna eat your mandelbrot, makes me ache
I look over all the sweets I could partake
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

Oy vey
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
Ay-yay ay-yay

I don’t want to be your trifle
I don’t want to feel so stifled
Oy, oy

I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna be your trifle
I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna feel so stifled, bubbe
Oy…

I don’t wanna
I’m not gonna eat your blintzes, big mistake
I look over all the recipes you could make
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

I don’t wanna be your testee when you bake
I’m not gonna eat your kichel, makes me ache
I look over all the sweets I could partake
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

I don’t wanna
(Cheesecake)
I’m not gonna be your trifle
I look over all the recipes you could make
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

I don’t wanna be your victim when you bake
I’m not gonna eat your hamantasch, makes me ache
I look over all the sweets I could partake
And all I want is your sweet cheesecake

Mwah!

Aalborg, den 6. sivan 5774

Wet Regatta

The Grinch went out, with cap in hand
He saw some friends upon the strand
Got very wet; to home adjourned
Upon arrival the sun returned
(briefly) 😡

His cap gone missing, umbrella was busted
Ten days of rain, if forecast is trusted
Homebound he’ll be till the weather does break
Unless DMI did make a mistake.
(often) 😳

Resolved to search along the strand
The cap was found where it did land!
Many had passed, but none did grab it
’cause trusting is a Danish habit.
Crisis averted! 🙂

at Aalborg Regatta 2013
updated with additional verses 15. oktober 2013

White Chanukah

(with apologies to Israel Beilin)

I’m dreaming of a white Chanukah
just like the ones I used to know
with the dreidels spinning
and children winning
some gelt, by the candles’ glow.

I’m dreaming of a white Chanukah
with every latke I devour
thinking: not by might, not by power
but by spirit alone do we flower.

Aalborg, den 2. tevet 5773

A critic is born

At the museum, on live television
an interview needed, with a quick decision
my Danish not good, thus a bit nervous
but can I provide more than lip service?

The one question on every Dane’s mind
I must tell the truth, but try to be kind
to answer in public I don’t wish to do
in case my rejoinder one might misconstrue.

“What do you think about Danish…art?”
I hem and I haw, yet don’t fall apart

“Whilst interesting pictures, not all to my liking”
(at least absent was depiction of a Viking)
I struggle with the words, at last get them out
“deep meaning in pictures, what I think about.”

A friend later asks me, famous art critic?
(perchance it was so, my words analytic)
carpe diem, I think, and thus do remark
“Indeed, now am I, World Famous in Denmark!”

Epilogue

And later that evening, in café below
Kierkegaard’s words emblazoned, how apropos:

“At turde er at miste fodfæstet et øjeblik, ikke at turde er at miste sig selv.”
“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily, not to dare is to lose oneself.”

The interview by TV2 Nord at International Tuesday, KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg (9 October 2012) can be viewed here.

To A Hundred and Thirty-Three

You’re turning ninety, what a milestone!
The pictures reveal, from a wee sprite you’ve grown.

Across the miles, I send you best wishes
if I could’a, it would’a been knishes.

Good humour you have, most identified trait
we love you for it, making you first rate!
And as it’s said, if truth be told
when you were born, they broke the mold.

A family you’ve created, you do us all proud
we’ll shout from the rooftops (if this is allowed)
A bride, two sons, plus ‘daughter’ and ‘grands’
spread far and wide, across many lands.

Jimmy, Père, Vater, Grandpa or Pop
I could keep going, but best I should stop
What’s in a name? so asks this laddie
all have their favorites; to me you’re just Daddy.

In Yiddish we hear “biz hundert un tsvantzik!”
yet your retort is “not that old tired shtick!”
How many more years with you shall we see?
your spiel is “a hundred and thirty-three!”
Until then must end these verses above
from me to you inscribed with lots of love.

from Aalborg

East End Story: Overture

A feast was laid on: “Eintopf”, “smörgåsbord”
performed by a dancing, drumming horde.

“Dog’s breakfast” in Britain
from those who weren’t smitten
Not done till dogs’ dinners
leave time for the winners!

Still, I’m not so skittish
it was very British
Did anyone vet it?
non-Brits couldn’t get it.

Not wholly a cynic
Great: Ormond Street clinic!

Olympic flame, such a beauty
in performing its duty.

Brunels were dancing
Britain’s progress advancing.

Recalled Seven-Seven, plus Double Oh Seven
Indeed, Liz’s jump seen afar from Devon.

Music by Rattle, accompanied by Bean’s
keyboard, plus Pearly Kings and their Queens.

Athletes parading
where are they from?
procession seemed endless
brains turning numb.

Enlighten us, please, what did you see?
What, pray tell, was your cup of tea?
I beg you, though, not to repeat
in this situation, no need to compete!

Ab Fab event, a fortnight to excite
Great Olympics to all, and to all a good night!

from Aalborg

Turing centenary

Today we honour Alan Turing
a man whose activities during
the Second World War out at Bletchley
are forever in our minds etched; he
and his mates cracked the Enigma.
Still, he had to live with the stigma
of his gayness not being acceptable
yet he found it all delectable.

Despite what the history books say
that his tragedy was to be gay
we now hear his end may have been
a mishap, to much our chagrin.

But let’s not dwell on bereavements
and focus on his achievements.
Was he the ‘Father of Computing’?
Others, too, but I’m not disputing.

Thanks to the BBC for reporting this story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18561092

from Aalborg

The Beginning (Prelude to 19 June 1949)

There was a young lad named Jimmy
who danced with a lass named Timi
But he chose twin Micki
’cause he was so picky
and wow, could she shake and shimmy.

from Aalborg

Father’s Day 2012

When Jimmy was just a lad
with Micki two sons he had
Now we can’t deny
that he’s a great guy
so I’m glad that he’s my Dad.
from Aalborg