Skip to main content

Ode to a LLama



Alas, I didn't win the mystery prize in the llamarama 'Write an ode to a LLama' competition so I shall never know if I missed out on a llama on the lawn or - sigh - an N-Dubz hat, but, hey!, I was one of three runners-up singled out for a 'special mention' - hurray! Congratulations to the winner, Kim Hall. For a special performance of my own effort, please click above.

PS, That word my actress is slurring is 'cria', a baby llama... Honestly, where's Kate Winslet when you need her?
Labels:

Comments

arosebyanyothername said…
Great stuff! I'm sure that if you had ben able to submit your poem in movie form it would have won hands down.
I find it helps to insert plenty of spaces to slow the speech down a bit.
3 June 2009 at 15:02
Chris Stovell said…
Oh, good tip, Rosie!
3 June 2009 at 15:03
Lane Mathias said…
You should have won the Llama. You used the word banana in your ode! And I have to say I'm mightily disappointed not to see a photo of you in an N-Dubz hat. But yay for a special mention!

And I'm glad to see you're still American:-)
4 June 2009 at 01:07
Flowerpot said…
Can't think why you didnt win that prize Chris!!
4 June 2009 at 01:13
Edward said…
I've really enjoyed your films - I loved the Aldi Wrinkle Cream bit. Your actress did rather mangle the delivery, though!
4 June 2009 at 02:14
Chris Stovell said…
Lane, and mine was the only proper ode - I was robbed of my N-Dubz hat!

FP, neither can I, dear heart!

Edward, thank you. Oh well, a bad director always blames her actors, I suppose... fortunately Rosie knows what to do and has passed on the secret of her success.

JJ, Debs - I am taking a big curtsey and shedding a few tears - thank you.
4 June 2009 at 15:21
Pondside said…
Bravo, once again, a brilliant performance. Who knew poetry could be such a draw on the big screen?
4 June 2009 at 18:47
Amanda said…
Excellent! x
4 June 2009 at 23:40
Calico Kate said…
These are so much fun Chris. Love the ode and think it should have won.
Didn't know that Cria was a baby llama. Now to find some so that when we drive past I can stun all with my new knowledge!
CKx
5 June 2009 at 05:03
Cait O'Connor said…
I'm loving your films Chris, you deserve a prize.
5 June 2009 at 09:11
Chris Stovell said…
Pondside, all I need to do is get the actress to put the bottle down and say her lines clearly!

Amanda, thank you!

Kate, yes, I am full of wisdomosity and now you are too!

Cait, alas I was not worthy of the N-Dubz hat!
7 June 2009 at 07:12
BT said…
Oooh, it's all a bit quick!! lol, but great fun. Well done for your special mention.
1 July 2009 at 17:25
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Happy Endings, New Beginnings

Blended families come with conflicting loyalties and at Christmas time nearly everyone has somewhere else they feel they ought to be. Throw partners into the equation and it gets even more complicated. Since Tom and I aren’t especially hung up about Christmas we’re happy to let our children go with the strongest flow, but I have to say it was a great delight to have the girls and their partners staying with us this year. When such moments are few and far between they become very precious. My stepsons weren’t far from our thoughts either, not least because we had the very happy news on Christmas Day that my elder stepson and his girlfriend had become engaged. Congratulations Dan and Gill, here’s wishing you every happiness together. Tom and I end a year that has seen the fruition of many years work, both of us crossing important thresholds within weeks of each other. I’m really looking forwards to seeing Turning the Tide published next year and it’s been so satisfying, after al
22 comments
Read more

Fly Free, Dottie Do

‘How many days to my birthday?’ Ma asks. I do a quick calculation. ‘Eighteen,’ I reply. ‘Eighteen days until your ninetieth birthday.’ Ma pulls a face and shakes her head. Every sentence is hard work for her now, when each breath is a struggle. ‘You’ll have to write a book about this, you know,’ she says, with one of her quick, mischievous smiles. ‘“Carry On Dying”. Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry.’ The smile fades. ‘Who knew,’ she adds wearily, ‘that dying would be such a palaver?’  It’s only eleven days since Ma was diagnosed with a high-grade, aggressive lymphoma, four days since she was overwhelmed with pain and breathing difficulties and was admitted as an emergency to hospital. Until a few weeks ago, she lived completely independently; shopping, cooking, cleaning and tending her much-loved garden. The deterioration in her health is shockingly rapid. The eight days preceding her death are a living hell, a constant battle with the ward staff to get Ma the pain relief she’s been presc
11 comments
Read more

Since You've Been Gone

Well, Ma Mère, There have been so many times when I’ve gathered up all the little shiny moments I’ve collected during the day, ready to present to you in our evening phone call and then I remember all over again that you’re not there. But, Mum, so much has happened since you’ve gone - maybe you know, maybe you don’t - that I’ve decided to write to you instead.  A few days after you died, we sold our house! After all those months! We even joked about you rattling cages somewhere. At first, nothing happened and then suddenly everything happened at a breathless pace and the next thing I knew I found myself driving (yes, me, driving!) along the M4 to Bridgend and the Time Capsule House, the one you said you and Dad would have bought. I remarked, when we first viewed it that if it was meant for us, it would come to us. Over a year later, when it had been under offer twice, we moved in. Oh, Mum, you and Dad would have loved this house; it’s peak Seventies and the decor - the pampas ensuite
5 comments
Read more