The following poems were created from the contents of an audio cassette made by my grandmother in Oxfordshire in 1987, one of the many recordings of ‘family news’ that were posted back and forth between her and my mother, who had emigrated to Australia the previous decade. I discovered the cassette in 2022, and began listening to it in 2024. I am interested in what the ludic practice of rewriting – as well as the formal constraints of the Pantoum, Ghazal and Sestina – reveal about time, memory, the family lexicon, the labour of mothering and grandmothering, the relationship between the mundane and the poignant, and the act of listening itself.

 

Pantoum

I think I’ve told you this, you know

I took one of my puddings down

I don’t know whether I’ve told you or not, but anyway

plum and apple crumble

I took one of my puddings down

we all had it

plum and apple crumble

plums from the garden

we all had it

the drink in the carton is all

plums from the garden

I thought: there’s no point sitting around here

the drink in the carton is all

Jenny had given Charles. Strict instructions

I thought: there’s no point sitting around here

I left when they left to go

Jenny had given Charles strict instructions

not by falling but just by walking

I left when they left to go

so that she can look at it when she gets back

not by falling but just by walking

to tape the film that was on the television on the video

so that she can look at it when she gets back

this afternoon when I got back, I sat down myself

to tape the film that was on the television on the video

the penguin biscuit and the satsuma

this afternoon. When I got back I sat down myself

that was one of the things

the penguin biscuit and the satsuma

and I thought how nice your writing was

that was one of the things

I’ve been terribly busy for the last two weeks

and I thought how nice your writing was

and then a bath, a leisurely bath

I’ve been terribly busy for the last two weeks

I’ve cut some sandwiches for their tea

and then a bath, a leisurely bath

It’s been like a nursing home here

I’ve cut some sandwiches for their tea

Charles rang up at about a quarter past eight

It’s been like a nursing home here

I spoke to you and I didn’t recognize you at all

Charles rang up at about a quarter past eight

all the hedges were white

I spoke to you and I didn’t recognize you at all

It’s pitch black here, you see, at that time

all the hedges were white

with your violin lessons

It’s pitch black here, you see. At that time

you sounded so grown up

with your violin lessons

I really don’t know what I’m in for yet

you sounded so grown up

Jenny seems to be resigned

I really don’t know what I’m in for yet

I thought I’d just start another tape

Jenny seems to be resigned

when Charles picked the two children up

I thought I’d just start another tape

he started Sellotaping his folder together

when Charles picked the two children up

I told Jenny if he were mine I’d thrash him

he started Sellotaping his folder together

waking up in the night, worrying about this damn thing

I told Jenny if he were mine I’d thrash him

I’ve also bought her an apron for the kitchen

waking up in the night, worrying about this damn thing

you can sit down and mummy can tape it

I’ve also bought her an apron for the kitchen

and she’s biting all my papers

you can sit down and mummy can tape it

a rather nice sort of bread roll, with hot brie

and she’s biting all my papers

I don’t know whether I’ve told you or not. But anyway

a rather nice sort of bread roll, with hot brie

I think I’ve told you this, you know

 

Ghazal

It was potted shrimps or macaroni cheese

So she chose the macaroni cheese, you know

I should think they’re about eighty years old

Some of those trees, you know

I had a very nice letter from Pramila

She’s walking with a splint tied to the knee, you know

The children’s clothes are all ready for school

And I’ve cut some sandwiches for their tea, you know

Then I rush off to pick up Kath and

Another girl at a quarter past three, you know

Charles said: we shall never use it. But she was all sentimental about

This fire-guard she’d picked up for 50p, you know

Sounds funny but it was delicious

A sort of bread roll with hot brie, you know

It might be that this girl is booked up, or doesn’t want to go

So we shall have to see, you know

‘My dear!’ she said. I could tell she’d had a couple of drinks

She was delighted to hear from me, you know

 

Sestina

How bogged down I’ve been with Philip’s aquarium!

You’ll have heard from the other tape

They’re quite sought after around here

They seem to produce enormous amounts of apples

It’s quite a game, really:

We put fresh plants in with the artificial plants

The idea is that you buy four tiny little plants

To get the balance of the aquarium

Which had come to bits, really

No, it’s alright—Gran’s given me some Sellotape

I shall have to give her a nice Christmas present. I give her a lot of apples

As soon as you open the packet she’s there

There’s no point in sitting around here

You need money for plants

We had a rather nice sort of bread roll with apples

Right at the corner of the aquarium

There was a leak all over the tape

I think they come from France, you know, really

It’s rather unfortunate, really

You’ve got bubbles everywhere

Joey had given Bruce strict instructions to tape

A fortnight with these fresh plants

I gather their aquarium

And say, ‘What lovely apples.’

To produce enormous amounts of apples

Showed he had an interest, I thought, really

Mine’s just a common-or-garden aquarium

Everything is very expensive here

I’ve been waking up in the plants

He used masses of Sellotape

I thought I’d just start another tape

I’ve been busy giving away apples

I wonder how you’re getting on with your plants

And all seems well, really

I’m just having a gin and tonic here

I’ve just rung up Philip and said, ‘How’s the aquarium?’

Jenny plants apples about this aquarium

I told you at the end of my last tape, it’s been like a nursing home here

Even if they all died, it wouldn’t matter, really