Sometimes, it is good to read poetry that is really about having fun whether that’s with form, theme or content. Roald Dahl and Spike Milligan were two famous proponents of verse to amuse and in more recent times, Roger McGough and Brian Bilston have also composed works which are playful and use language and the versatility (pun intended) that the poetic form presents to have a little fun.
I would put Don Behrend’s poetry in this category too. In his collection, In Doubtful Taste, Behrend has written verse on a variety of different topics and has grouped them under headings as various as “Pandemic”, “Peacocks and Pachyderms” and “Pilgrim’s Progress” to name a couple, the alliterative ‘P’ of their titles being a nice conceit.
From those titles, it is clear to see there are a wide variety of subjects covered, but all of them a little lightly and with a tongue firmly in cheek. What Behrend is really good at too is ending his poems with a punch, usually a line that makes you laugh out loud at its accuracy in getting to the heart of the matter, or its irreverence.
But this is not all frothy nonsense. Behrend is obviously an educated man with references to Bocaccio’s Decameron mixed with contemporary comparisons to Netflix and Disney, the two incongruously juxtaposed to comic effect in “Another Decameron”, which has a stunningly funny last line to boot. There is also a nod to Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top” in “A Modern Love Song”, with its references to the organically aware lover and their proclivities, which is so right on, it’s cringey.
And there is philosophy here too as well as learnedness in the poem “Rembrandt’s Selfies” which compares Behrend’s own digital selfie taking with Rembrandt’s extensive self portraiture. I liked Behrend’s explanations for his inspiration which add to your understanding of some of his poems and give a deeper insight into his way of thinking and what piques his interest.
This is not a taxing poetry collection but it does have depth of thought amongst the humour. I think that Behrend has created a group of poems which are well balanced – light enough to be accessible but layered enough to prompt deeper thought if desired.
Scuffed Granny 