Neopoet

Join the Neopoet online poetry workshop and community to improve as a writer, meet fellow poets, and showcase your work. Sign up, submit your poetry, and get started.

shazbat
shazbat
Apr 12, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Mister ordinary

He’s an ordinary person

With an ordinary life

With two ordinary children

And an ordinary wife

In an ordinary house

In an ordinary place

Drives an ordinary car

At an ordinary pace

In his ordinary suit

And his ordinary shirt

In an ordinary office

Does his ordinary work

He’s just mister ordinary

Every ordinary day

And he’s extraordinary

In his ordinary way

© John W Fenn 11-04-2009

— shazbat, Apr 12, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Norfolk, UK, GBR

Favorite Poets: Kipling, T.S Eliot, Hilaire Belloc, Ogden Nash, Spike Milligan and many more.

More from this author

Critiques

CN

Craig Norris

17 years 1 month ago

now this reminds me

Hi John, this reminds me of something that some English band did way back in the sixties maybe. It'll come to me today, thanks for the ride. Craig
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

thanks for reading Craig, I

thanks for reading Craig, I have a vague recollection of that song but can't remember who did it, was it the Kinks? john
CN

Craig Norris

17 years 1 month ago

getting the Kinks out

Hi John, It's got me thinking about the Kinks too, but maybe it's just reminiscent of them and that larrikin feel they had. Craig
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

I was in London in the

I was in London in the sixties and my memory is shot, if you should find out who did it let me know, it might help to fill in a few gaps. John
Tonya

Tonya

17 years 1 month ago

Reminiscent

of "There was a crooked man.." a childrens poem i remember from long long ago! But, really, this is quite extraordinary! Is difficult to take one single word and build a story 'round it like this. Again, your structure is impeccible and you have left us with an amusing hmmmmmmmm...to think about. Insightful too, ordinary does not necessarily mean boring, but can be contentment. and Happy contentment at that. Very very nicely done John. Always Sincere, Tonya
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

Tonya, I’m not used to

Tonya, I'm not used to getting such positive comments, I'm really pleased that you found this one worthy of such praise, as you say its not boring if you are contented and happy with your lot. Regards John
Tonya

Tonya

17 years 1 month ago

Well John,

I comment on the things i like. I am not yet comfortable telling people what i think they should do to change things, generally. So... I will keep being happy reading the gems i find. I have read some things that are definitely not my favorite reads, and refrain from comment. One of these days i'll venture to be braver though. lol. The next time i pull you up to read, i promise to comment however i see it. good or bad? fair enough? and of course, I expect the same. lol. Have a terrific day John. and shame on people for not commenting! That is one irritating thing on this site. At the risk of being an outcast.. (here goes... does seem there are some things, i feel that are not very well done, but get high praise. and i realize, is only my opinion) What ever i may say, i say from my convictions though. Always Sincere, Tonya
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

Tonya I’ve got to admit

Tonya I've got to admit that I only ever post comment on things that I find outstanding, I dont feel that I know enough to be able to criticise. I am never certain that what I have written is any good so how can I criticise others. Feel free to be open and honest (but not too harsh) Regards John
Tonya

Tonya

17 years 1 month ago

lol

my senitments exactly, on all accounts! :)
themoonman

themoonman

17 years 1 month ago

Hi John...

Ordinarily I would say the repetition detracts, but here you've shown us how it is done to be pleasing to both the poet and the reader... well done again John... Richard
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

Thanks Richard, I’m realy

Thanks Richard, I'm realy glad that you liked this, I wasn't too sure how well it would go down but the repetition seems to have worked. thanks for reading. Regards John
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

Johan, thanks for reading my

Johan, thanks for reading my scribbles, its always good to know that something you've written has been enjoyed. As for the accent I've had it described as educated cockney before now, and when I used to work in East London I was quite often called "that posh git". i've checked out the lyrics for a few songs but none are quite what I'd thought I'll probably have that eureka moment at 3 in the morning, anyway thanks again for your kind comments. regards John
CN

Craig Norris

17 years 1 month ago

Well Respected Man

Hi John, I have combed and trolled back and forth, and I believe this song is the one. Well Respected Man by the Kinks. 'caus he gets up in the morning and he goes to work at nine and he comes home at 5.30 catches the same train every time his world is built around punc-tu-al-ity it never fails he's a well respected man about town doing the best things so con-serv-ative-ly 'cause he's oh so good and he's oh so fine and he's oh so healthy in his body and his mind. Cheers Craig
Rett

Rett

17 years 1 month ago

John, well done!

And yes, it reminds me of Well Respected man by the Kinks also. It is the kind of thing I like. I am a wysiwyg kind of guy and love this stuff. Good job my friend. Where else but Texas would you see a bumper sticker that says... "Visiting a Strip Club is like paying a Restaurant to LOOK at the food!" Respectfully, Rett: Hug a logger, you'll never go back to trees! For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905
Rett

Rett

17 years 1 month ago

*LOL* Sorry Craig

I'm showing my age. Back in the dark ages of computerdom with the first word processors that showed you what the finished product would look like it was called wysiwyg (What You See Is What You Get) Sorry about that! Senior moment. Respectfully, Rett: Hug a logger, you'll never go back to trees! For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905
Kailashana

Kailashana

17 years 1 month ago

Another fine ordinary poem,

Another fine ordinary poem, Master John; you are ordinary in an extraordinary sort of way. ;-) And your ordinary poem reminds me of *Little Boxes* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Ys9RkvxgI Shazam! Anna "The way you make love is the way God will be with you." Rumi
shazbat

shazbat

17 years 1 month ago

Thanks Anna, glad you liked

Thanks Anna, glad you liked it, I've been wracking my feeble little brain and I cannot remember who it was that did the original version of "little boxes" Regards John
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 1 month ago

Pete Seger.

Pete Seger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3rN59GlWw Hi Shaz. Nice to revisit this poem, too. ~A "The plain man is familiar with blindness and deafness, and knows from his everyday experience that the look of things is influenced by his senses, but it never occurs to him to regard the whole world as a creation of his senses." ~ Ernst Mach