What book do you turn to in times of crisis?

[Derek Smith]

I was in a writing circle. It was a poor choice, with some of the members believing in acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropracathy (I decided to try a course for backpain. That's £360 I won't ever get back) and other ethereal stuff. Not my type, but there was one, though, who was an inspiring, but self-conscious, poet. I was self-conscious about my poetry, but for other, and valid, reasons. She was later published and created a bit of a stir locally. I think my attempts at poetry must have given her a reason to put herself out there.

For a weekly bit of homework, we were obliged to write a poem about a book we turned to in times of crisis. There were some weird, but predictable, choices from some, and two bibles. The poetry was dire. Mine was a bit different in subject, but not quality. It went down well, I thought. Here, from 1985, for your delight and education is:

Poem, verse, lyric, rhyme, ode, jingle, ditty or doggerel

When the word you are seeking, pursuing or hunting
Is hiding, secreted away.
There’s a book to exploit,
Apply, use, allot
To help you mean what you say.

It’ll show you some variants, changes or surrogate
Phrases and words that might fit.
But understudy, no,
That wouldn’t go.
I’ll have to read on just a bit.

If it feels like cheating, wheeling and dealing,
Chicanery, fiddle or trick
You must have a skill
That eludes me still.
Or perhaps I’m a little too thick.

But when the right word, the only McCoy
Springs from the page, what relief!
Most writers use it,
Although I can’t prove it,
There’s nothing can shake my belief.

When the word you are seeking, finding, unearthing
Is faultless, exact and so true.
Then hide your Thesaurus
And join in my chorus
And say that you thought the thing through.

I love some poetry. Mind you, English Literature lessons sucked the life out of the ones we studied.

I stick to prose, something which is a relief to everyone I reckon.

If you enjoyed my poem, I've created a giving page.