Ted and Tunnock’s
March 31, 2009
To have swallowed a Crocodile/ Would make anybody smile/ But to swallow a Caramel wafer/ Is safer. Spotted and snapped in the Museum of the University of St Andrews
Here is a rather delightful poem, penned upon a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer wrapper, by none other than Ted Hughes. Poet Laureate from 1984 – 98, he came to put pen to Tunnock’s wrapper and we can only ponder why? Of course, the muse can strike at any time, perhaps particularly post-prandially. Is that what napkins are really for?
Speaking of the Poet Laureate, ‘Spring 2009 sees the launch of a landmark commitment to literature with a pan-BBC season dedicated to poetry’. Whee! This is to include such gems as Ian Hislop welcoming the new laureate ‘with an entertaining history of one of the oldest and, he argues, oddest offices in the British establishment’; Griff Rhys-Jones on ‘Why Poetry Matters’ (preaching to the choir, Griff!), and ‘Off By Heart’ – primary school children across the country take part in a nationwide recitation competition (like the wonderful film Spellbound, but with poetry?), culminating in a grand final, compered by Jeremy Paxman. What could be better!
Speaking of Tunnock’s, it’s time for tea and Julie’s bought a lemon drizzle cake.
